Christmas in Memphis (original recording) - Media General Singers

"Christmas in Memphis" was written and recorded in 1985. The vocals were provided by members of the Media General Singers, a group of "radio station jingle singers," located in Memphis, TN. The song was a favorite Memphis holiday classic for many years afterwards.

Solo singers are:

Bruce Wermuth (1st Verse)
Stephony Smith (1st Verse)
Reba Russell (1st Chorus)

David Mayo (2nd Verse)
Kelli Bruce (2nd Verse)
Bill Mc Math (2nd Chorus)

Stephony Smith and Reba Russell (sang the bridge)

Christmas In Memphis
Lyrics and Music by Michael Porter and Stephony Smith

It's December Twenty-Four
Just Like All the Ones Before
This One Is Different

Seems Like Everyone I See
Makes a Point of Wishing Me
A Merry Christmas

Chorus:
It's Not The Presents Or The Lights Up On The Trees
It's Not The Santa's Ringing Bells Out In The Streets
It's That I'm Home and There's No Place I'd Rather Be
Because It's Christmas in Memphis
Christmas in Memphis
Christmas in Memphis, Tennessee

Once Again It Didn't Snow
And I Turn on My Radio
And "Blue Christmas" Plays

When the Clock Rolls Past the Twelve
We Put Time Put Up On a Shelf
Just For a Day

*Repeat Chorus

On This Silent Night Hear the Church Bells Ring
As the River Goes By Caroling
There's Not a Stranger Tonight In This Town On The Bluff
A Star Shines Bright as a Symbol of Love

*Repeat Chorus

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Media
• General
• Singers
• Christmas
• in
• Memphis
• original
• recording
• song
• Michael
• Porter
• Stephony
• Smith
• Reba
• Russell
• David
• Mayo
• Kelli
• Bruce
• Bill
• McMath
• Sam
• Shoup
• Joe
• Dixon
• Elvis
• Presley
• Tennessee

[KSchwab9]

Thanks for the early Christmas gift Robert. The images were really beautiful. The only thing lacking was the snow. I almost expected "The King" to appear and sing Blue Christmas. Merry Christmas to you and yours my friend. God bless.

[NedNickerson2010]

@KSchwab9 I did try to include a clip of Elvis singing, "Blue Christmas," in time with the lyrics, but Windows Movie Maker kept freezing up at that part, so I had to delete it and just go with the Elvis Christmas ornament. It's probably just as well, though. The Elvis Presley estate probably would have complained about a copyright infringement. Merry Christmas to you, also!

[skipaway2000]

WOW! The original! This is hard to find! Thanks so much for posting! I know I about wore my cassette tape out years ago. This version is *sooo* much better than the bland remake from a few years ago...

[NedNickerson2010]

@skipaway2000 I've never heard the remake - who did the remake?

[bab2315]

I have lived alot of years away from Memphis, but it is still home and I am still Southern. This song brings back so many peasant memories of sittling in Confederate Park of Jefferson Davis Park watching "The River". They say"All Hearts Go Home For Christmas" and that is when my heart and mind goes--home to Memphis. Thanks for the song Homesick Southerner

[peccadilloangel]

Thank you for posting this! I have been looking for the original one forever. The new WRVR version is just too much of a commercial for the radio station for my taste.

[CBSEye]

You guys did a beautiful job with this song, capturing the flavor of the lyrics throughout. Now if only Elvis had been around when this was written, he would have made it a Christmas classic. I was once there at this time of the year, and it brought back many happy memories, especially seeing Graceland lit up for the holidays. Merry Christmas to everybody who had a hand in this effort. My special thanks. - Guy @ Eye

[jackxx]

Thank you for doing this. I have this song around somewhere on a cassette. Love it! And, love what you did w/the video - some nice scenes. Nice reminder of some of the nicer things about Memphis.

[sanditcb2]

This is so special to me - thank you so much. Reminds me why I love living here.

[angiesim]

Wonderful video, wonderful song, wonderful city - especially at Christmas. Thanks to John Beach for sharing!

[jb1835]

Great job, Great song.

I would not want to live in any other place.

Thanks, John Beach

[drummeagle]

I had a red cassette tape of this I listened to growing up. Can we get this on iTunes or something? I'd buy it as a download or a CD somewhere. I've been looking for it forever! Thanks for putting it up here! :) Happy Holidays!

[MindSweep43]

This tune takes me back. There is some really great vocal work on this from all the singers involved. And I noticed Mr. David Mayo sang part of it. I used to live next door to him when I was a kid.....I had forgotten what a great vocalist he was. I wonder if he is still in the music business?

[BUIKPAN]

I knew a Kelli Bruce from Denton, Tx and she sang in the area ....is this the same girl? Is she recording or performing any where?