Ironic that Blue Christmas will be aired a few weeks after my mom passed..Try to listen
please.

Back about 1947 my grandpop and a fellow song writer were writing songs together. They had a couple that were recorded by Roy Rogers on RCA with a fantastic steel guitar solo which my dad told me was one of the best ever. Since I dont know the fellow who played the steel I think its Juchim something.

Anyhow, my grandpop and this fellow were writing songs and with not much luck because outside of my grandpop plugging their songs over WOR coast to coast they had no other source to get any interest in their songs.

Roy Rogers turned the song down,so did many others.

Finally one day my granpops partner in song writing came to my grandpop and explained that he had a real good offer that would probably have Gene Autry record the song. My grandpop said,wow thats great,the partner said yes,but there is one problem. The publisher doesnt want three names on the song and my grandpop said,well there are only two names,your's and mine.

The writing partner told me Grandpop that the
only way he could get a chance to get recognition was for my Grandpop to consider removing his name from the song.

My grandpop was a fine man and trustworthy and since his partner was an accountant by day his real desire was to be a song writer.

Fast Forward.............In 1948 this song was played over WOR direct from New Yorks Village Barn where my Grandpop had worked since 1932. My dad (Jody) was now playing steel guitar with my Granpop's western swing band. In spite of the fact that my grandpop agreed to have his name removed he still plugged the song over the air every Saturday Night.

My dad and Grandpop introduced the song for the very first time in 1948 direct from New York's Village Barn.

A few months later my Grandpop was told that the song he was plugging was starting to become popular.

The partner of my Grandpop made an agreement
that if this fellow could get someone famous to record this song he wanted his name on it and my Grandpops name off.

That song today is Blue Christmas and the original writers were Zeb Carver and Billy Hayes,but the gentleman who had the connections name was Jay Johnston so Mr Johnston and Billy Hayes names are as the writers. But it didnt happen that way.

So when you listen to Blue Christmas be it known that my Grandpop wrote the melody in conjuction with Billy Hayes.

My dad told me he asked my Grandpop if he was ever sorry he removed his name from the song and he told my dad...well sometimes but
I have much to be thankful for I am now 85 years old and I have lived a good life and if I had not taken my name off the song I could have been wealthy today and I would have gave you the royalties to make your life easier.

Thats where my dad gets his being what he is
a good trusting guy and regardless I am proud
of my dad and my grandpop as well.

My Grandpop passed away at age 85 on December
1st 1986. So if you listen to Mike Gross on his www.swinginwest.com on Christmas eve you
will hear the true story of how Blue Christmas came to be.

This will be a Blue Christmas for my dad and myself and family,but we are thankful for having a great grandpop and a great dad and the BEST mom in the whole world.

I hope you enjoyed this little piece of history..I have two others that were gigantic hits that came a few years later and the same thing happened.

Maybe when time allows I will tell that story
that will knock your socks off make sure your socks have no holes and are clean.

Merry Christmas from our house to your's

Lorrie Carver. Bless all of you and when you hear Blue Christmas think of the name ZEB CARVER. My Grandpop.

Thank You for your patience. Edited by Lorrie Carver on December 20 at 11:14 pm

TRUE STORY HONEST TO GOD I wouldnt say that if this were not true. Check out Google and you will see the names of the writers.My Grandpops name should have been there.

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 20 December 2004 at 09:01 PM.]

But, it's not just a crime - it's a sin. A song, or any work of art is a piece of the Artist's soul. It's a sin to steal a piece of another's soul and claim it as one's own. To do this diminishes the soul of the thief, and though it may bring him false fame and undeserved wealth - the price he will ultimately pay is OBLIVION.

The Creator knows who writes the songs - after all, they are his gifts to the writer.
So the real writer will collect his royalties when the time comes.

I don't believe in religion, but I just know that this is true. And now I know who really wrote what I have always considered to be my favorite Christmas Song.

After it became a monstor of a hit,he still never held anything against anyone.

Royalties will never happen.I just thought that the least I could do was tell the story behind the song.

That is all I wanted. Thank all of you for your comments. Im sure my grandpop had no malice towards anyone. It was his being the good guy that this came about.

My dad is just like my grandpop. Only those few know that the first time ever Blue Christmas was played,my grandpop and dad played it over WOR mutual coast to coast from
New York City's Village barn located on West 8th street in the heart of Greenwich Village.
52 West 8th St,To be exact and only the memories remain. The Village Barn opened in 1929 and closed in 1957.

Happy New Year and the best of health to all of you on this Forum. My dad sends his best.