Salamanca native’s Christmas song

Contents

Salamanca native’s Christmas song .......................2 Santa Claus Lane in Olean............................................3 Bradford’s holiday traditions adjusted...................4 GOACC offers gift certificates for holidays.........5 Santa Claus Lane ornament 6 Portville plans for 2021 holiday season...................7 Ellicottville readies holidays .......................................9 Shop local save on gas....................................................10 Holiday events throughout No. Tier of Pa..........12 Ellicottville Ski Tree .......................................................13 Christmas in Gowanda preparations...................14

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Jim Bonn

Executive Group Editor

Jim Eckstrom

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Jill Henry and Preston Cochran

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Falicia Elom

Salamanca native’s Christmas song ‘Silver Bells’ still loved 70 years on

814.368.3173 43 Main St. P.O Box 365. Bradford, P.a. 16701 716.372.3121 639 Norton Dr. Olean, N.y. 14760 BY KELLEN M. QUIGLEY

Every holiday season, one of the most recorded Christmas songs in history rings out: “Silver Bells,” co-written by Academy Award winner — and Salamanca native — Ray Evans.

A lyricist who passed away in 2007, Evans teamed with songwriting partner Jay Livingston to turn out “Silver Bells,” a tune that has been sold on more than half a billion records.

“Silver Bells” was first performed by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the movie “The Lemon Drop Kid,” filmed in the summer of 1950 and released in March 1951. The first recorded version was by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards, released in October 1950.

Now, a new recording of the song is looking to become a modern standard for the 21st century.

World-renowned children’s entertainer Raffi and rising singer-songwriter Lindsay Munroe have teamed up to record a duet of “Silver Bells,” marking the latest collaboration between the two award-winning artists.

“As someone who grew up listening to Raffi’s iconic ‘Christmas album,’ it is such an honor to join him on this beautiful rendition of ‘Silver Bells,’” Munroe said of the collaboration. “I love Christmas music and this song has always been one of my favorites. I hope it brings joy and a smile to all who listen this holiday season.”

“Lindsay Munroe’s golden voice gives ‘Silver Bells’ new sparkle,” said Raffi. “I loved joining her in this duet for the holiday season.”

While Munroe and Raffi are currently working on a soon-to-be-announced project, they are thrilled to deliver some early holiday cheer through “Silver Bells,” now available for digital download.

In a December 2005 interview with National Public Radio, Evans told the story of, first, how he and Livingston were not sure they even wanted to write a Christmas song, and second, how the song was almost titled something else.

“This picture came along called ‘The Lemon Drop Kid,’ starring Bob Hope, and a Christmas song was required for it,” Evans told NPR. “Well, we had no enthusiasm for writing a Christmas song ’cause we figured, stupidly, thank God, that the world had too many Christmas songs already.”

Silver Bells continued on ................. page 15

Famed songwriter Ray Evans, a native of Salamanca, is shown with one of his Academy Awards for Best Original Song in front of the Ray Evans Seneca Theater in his hometown.

FILE PHOTO