Chip Davis may not sound like a familiar Christmastime figure, but, as Santa Claus by way of the New Age store, he definitely is.
You may not recognize his smiling bearded face, but you probably know his music. As the founder of Mannheim Steamroller, Davis has helped sell more than 27 million albums, most of which feature his ornate arrangements of classic carols.
A holiday mainstay since the 1980s, Davis’ group is credited as being the top-selling Christmas artist of all time by the Recording Industry Association of America.
On Dec. 2, Mannheim Steamroller plans to transform Comcast Arena at Everett Events Center into one of its explosive holiday engagements, complete with a 22-person symphonic orchestra, an 8,000-square-foot Dickensian Christmas village, and snowmen and elves wandering the arena.
“That’s in an effort to have people sort of intermingle with the show,” Davis, 60, said recently from his home base in Omaha, Neb.
It wasn’t always like this. Davis, who was born Louis Davis Jr., began penning advertisements, eventually releasing the novelty hit “Convoy” in 1975. In 1984, however, he stumbled into his current career, releasing Mannheim Steamroller’s “Christmas.” The album sold 6 million copies, spawning several sequels and a live album.
The albums feature an odd mix of instruments, from Renaissance lutes to synthesizers and electric guitars.
While Davis has ventured into new seasonal terrain with albums focused on Halloween and the Fourth of July, the platinum records decorating his walls still focus on Christmas albums.
The most recent holiday disc from the group is “Christmas Song,” out this year. On it, Mannheim Steamroller groups eight classic carols — “Feliz Navidad” and “The Christmas Song,” for example — with four of Davis’ own compositions.
The new CD doesn’t deviate much from the Mannheim formula. Again, Davis’ arrangements mix the high and the low, the classic and the modern. He employs harpischords and lutes, while also tapping folks such as Johnny Mathis and Olivia Newton-John to sing lead.
Mathis is “just really a nice guy, and Olivia is the same way,” Davis said of the collaborators. “She is so sweet and just very willing to do whatever it takes to get the take right. She, too, is a perfectionist as far as her singing goes.”
Mathis and Newton-John won’t be at the Everett show. Instead, concertgoers can plan to hear an instrumental selection spanning all the Christmas discs, with Davis in his usual role behind the drums.
Davis also seems to be a savvy businessman. On his Web site, he hawks a panoply of items, including shampoos, hot chocolate mixes, a plum chutney sauce, ball caps and polo shirts.
“I was looking for items to go with my music and I was coming up with the idea of gifts sets, like, you know, what would go good with Christmas music?” Davis said.
With the new album out this year, the group cut short its usual holiday grind. Instead of playing around 20 dates, they scheduled a dozen, giving them a chance to make the morning TV show circuit closer to Christmas.
Nonetheless, the group plans to play one show in Portland, Ore., and two shows in Washington, including the Everett gig. Davis said the group likes coming to the Northwest, where they started touring decades ago.
“It’s like coming home,” Davis said.
Reporter Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455 or e-mail arathbun@heraldnet.com.
Other musical holiday highlights this year in Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties include:
“The 7th Annual Christmas Spectacular, The Gift of Music”: Popular and talented pianist and songwriter Dehner Franks headlines this annual event that brings talent, laughs and the holiday spirit of giving to Everett. Franks is joined by master of ceremonies Brian Tracey, former co-host of KING-5 Evening Magazine; Victor Benedetti from the Chicago Opera; Katie Tomlinson, a New York Broadway performer; members of the Snohomish Children’s Choir; the Imagine Children’s Museum Singers and many others. This annual concert supports “Heroes Fighting Hunger,” the Volunteers of America food bank. 7 p.m. Dec. 15, Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. Minimum donation $10 plus five food items.
“A Holiday to Remember”: The Everett Chorale will celebrate music from a variety of world cultures, religions and regions to spread the joy of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Solstice. From the secular “White Christmas” to the sacred “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” to the traditional “Advent Carol” to contemporary “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” the music from this concert strives to warm the hearts of everyone. The Everett Chorale, under the direction of Lee Mathews for his 15th consecutive year, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 and 3 p.m. Dec. 2 at Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett. 425-257-8600 or toll free 1-888-257-3722.
“A Festival of Lessons &Carols”: Patterned after the Christmas Eve observance at King’s College in Cambridge, England, this classical performance consists of nine holiday readings, each followed by a traditional carol performed by the Northwest Boychoir, and another carol sung by the choir and audience. The choir performs in Everett at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2301 Hoyt Ave. There’s also a concert in Lynnwood at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 6215 196th St. SW. 206-524-3234 or www.nwchoirs.org. If available, tickets will be sold at the door.
“A Holiday Classic”: Grammy Award winners Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel are a veteran duo of 22 years producing 19 albums and a performance at Carnegie Hall in 2000. They will be joined by Grammy-nominated pianist David Lanz, and composer and flutist Gary Stroutsos at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Northshore Performing Arts Center, 18125 92nd Ave. NE., Bothell. 800-992-TIXX, www.npacf.org.
Seattle Jazz Singers: perform vocal holiday favorites at 2 p.m. Dec. 15 at Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St., Edmonds. 425-774-9600.
Also at the Wade James Theatre, you can catch a Breath of Aire, the group whose voices normally fill the streets of Leavenworth with holiday music during the tree-lighting event but who are bringing their sound to Edmonds at 8 p.m. Dec. 21 at Driftwood.
“After Thanksgiving with Dana Lyons”: This is a family friendly event of music and fun that benefits KSER, Snohomish County’s public radio. Lyons blends comedy and ballads with wit and a melodious voice. His songs range from the radio hit “Cows with Guns” to his newest album with stories by Jane Goodall. Bring a non-perishable food donation for the Volunteers of America food bank and get a chance to win a great raffle prize. The show is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Snohomish County PUD Auditorium, 2320 California St., Everett. Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com or at the box office beginning at 6:30 p.m.
“Home for the Holidays”: The Seattle Men’s Chorus will present a holiday choral celebration at 8 p.m. Dec. 1 at Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., Everett; 206-388-1400, www.flyinghouse.org.
“Holiday Magic — Home for the Holidays”: Sno-King Community Chorale Concert features traditional seasonal music plus “Amahl and the Night Visitors” with Bud Schultz, vibraphonist, at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds, 360-658-6655, www.sno-kingchorale.org.
“A Christmas Concert”: This is the third time that Concerts at the Floyd, presented by the Stanwood Area Historical Society, will present this Christmas performance. Flutist Jeffrey Cohan and harpsichordist George Shangrow will perform festive contemporary favorites of the season, with their own jazzed up variations. Holiday refreshments will be offered after the show, which starts at 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center, 27130 102nd Ave. NW, Stanwood. For ticket information, call 360-629-6110.
Musical highlights in Seattle and beyond include:
“Delights of the Holiday Season”: Seattle Symphony is presenting several holiday selections beginning with a concert featuring Rossen Milanov as conductor and cellists Joshua Roman and Julian Schwarz who will deliver a Christmas concerto, choral preludes and a concerto by Vivaldi in addition to selections from “The Nutcracker” by Tchaikovsky. Concerts at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29, 8 p.m. Nov. 30 and 2 p.m. Dec. 2.
Also, the symphony’s “Discover Music!” is a holiday special for kids designed for children 5 to 12 years old with selections from Vivaldi’s “Concerto for Two Cellos,” Corelli’s “Christmas” Concerto and the music of Tchaikovsky starting at 11 a.m. Dec. 1.
The symphony also will present its “Holiday Pops” for an evening of holiday favorites, including the best of Christmas and Hanukkah at 7:30 Dec. 6, 8 p.m. Dec. 7, 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 8 and 2 p.m. Dec. 9.
Handel’s “Messiah” will be performed with the Seattle Symphony Chorale at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, 8 p.m. Dec. 14, 1 and 8 p.m. Dec. 15 and 2 p.m. Dec. 16.
The Mount Zion Massed Choir joins the symphony at 8 p.m Dec. 16.
The world-renowned Canadian Brass quintet returns to feature traditional holiday tunes, selections from the quintet’s High Society album and a Glenn Miller medley at 7:30 Dec. 18 and 19.
Finally, the symphony hosts a “Holiday Sing-Along with the Seattle Symphony Chorale” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20.
All concerts are at the Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium at Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle. 206-215-4747,866-833-4747, www.seattlesymphony.org.
“Northern Lights II”: Seattle Pro Musica’s holiday concert will warm us while we experience winter in Russia with lush, spirited choral music from Russia, Latvia and Lithuania. Songs are traditional holiday carols to works by Tchaikovsky, Veljo Tormis and Arvo Part. A family performance prepared with children in mind begins at 3 p.m. Dec 8 and includes stories and a sing-along of favorite carols at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle. Other concerts are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, and 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15. 206-781-2766 or go to www.seattlepromusica.org.
“Back Home Again: A John Denver Holiday Concert”: Brought to you by the creators of “Fire on the Mountain,” and “Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues,” this holiday concert special features the music of John Denver, including “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” “Grandma’s Feather Bed,” and, of course, “Back Home Again,” as well as modern and traditional Christmas carols. Shows at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Dec. 5 through 24 at Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St., Seattle. 206-443-2222, 877-900-9285, www.seattlerep.org.
“A Baroque Christmas”: Step back in time for a Baroque holiday celebration with secular and sacred vocal and instrumental works from the 17th and 18th centuries presented by Gallery Concerts and that include the likes of Telemann, Praetorius and Bach. Concerts at 8 p.m. Dec. 8 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 4805 NE 45th St., Seattle, and at 3 p.m. Dec. 9 at Queen Anne Christian Church, 1316 Third Ave. W., Seattle. 206-726-6088, www.galleryconcerts.org, www.brownpapertickets.com.
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