Lone Star Nights with Jeremy KBEC Christmas Special

2 hour Christmas Special with Lisa Layne and her full band

For Lisa Layne, Sept. 27, 1989 would mean more than just her 27th birthday. She was standing at the microphone at Nashville’s Masterfonics recording studio. Nearby were some of the town’s finest studio musicians prepared to record a new bluesy Christmas song. The recording would be listed under the name of a retro rock and roll band that originated in New Orleans, Vince Vance and the Valiants.

As the tape began to roll, a funky, but melancholic saxophone solo introduced the tune until the point when Lisa Layne leaned into the microphone and began to sing:

“Take back the holly and mistletoe

            Silver bells on string

            If I wrote a letter to Santa Claus

             I would ask for just one thing… “

Here was one of those moments when greatness was achieved in a single take. The song, “All I Want for Christmas is You” is among the holiday’s best pop songs ever.

“I don’t need sleigh rides in the snow

Don’t want a Christmas that’s blue

Take back the tinsel, stockings and bow

‘cause all I want for Christmas is you.

Layne was born in Tyler, Texas but her family moved to Dallas when she was three. Because her father was a musician music was part of her heritage. After graduating from high school she performed with her own band until she was scouted by the Valiants whose operations were split between New Orleans and Dallas.