Christmas Gumbo
OffBeat Magazine|December 2019
The ultimate new Orleans holiday playlist.
Brett Milano
Christmas Gumbo

New Orleans’ history of Christmas music actually begins fairly recently: For all the great records that came out of this city in the ’50s and ’60s, only a precious few of them were seasonal. Many local legends (Armstrong, Prima, Toussaint) only recorded one-off Christmas tracks, and at least one, Professor Longhair, never waxed any seasonal music at all. That all changed in the CD era, as local songwriters did their best to put some new spice into the Christmas repertoire.

This stab at an ultimate New Orleans holiday playlist list culls many of the greatest in chronological order. Consider this a seasonal addendum to our book, “300 Songs for 300 Years”—which, we hasten to add, makes an excellent Christmas gift.

“What Will Santa Claus Say (When He Finds Everybody Swingin’?)” (Louis Prima, 1936) A pressing question indeed, and in 1936 Louis Prima was the man to ask it. Having recently left New Orleans to launch his career on the West Coast, by now Prima likely knew plenty about parties that don’t wrap early enough to give the fat man a quiet hour to leave gifts; the band on this record was his original New Orleans Gang. Note that it also asks what Santa will do “when he hears them sing-sing-singing,” a reference to his hit from earlier that year.

This story is from the December 2019 edition of OffBeat Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 2019 edition of OffBeat Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM OFFBEAT MAGAZINEView All
Celebrate While We Incinerate
OffBeat Magazine

Celebrate While We Incinerate

Malevitus has never sounded weirder or more beautiful.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2020
Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph [talks back]
OffBeat Magazine

Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph [talks back]

As eclectic as the New Orleans music scene is, it’s still hard to imagine an artist having a more diverse career than Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, who, at the age of 31, sings in three bands that could hardly be more different.

time-read
8 mins  |
February 2020
Indie Rock's 10-Year Anniversary
OffBeat Magazine

Indie Rock's 10-Year Anniversary

New Orleans rock artists have always been a part of the city’s music scene.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2020
THE ICEMEN COMETH
OffBeat Magazine

THE ICEMEN COMETH

THE ICEMAN SPECIAL MAKES MUSICAL MAGIC WITH A CROSS-GENERATIONAL COLLABORATION AND FAMILY TIES

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 2020
Christone ‘‘Kingfish'' Ingram talks back
OffBeat Magazine

Christone ‘‘Kingfish'' Ingram talks back

A native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram comes from the land of Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker and Skip James. Just turned 21, this young man with the blues respects his music’s past even as he shapes its future.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2020
Mr. Z
OffBeat Magazine

Mr. Z

Matthew Zarba is Upbeat Academy’s unflappable rap principal.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2020
A Walking Spirit
OffBeat Magazine

A Walking Spirit

Victor Harris, the Spirit of Fi-Yi-Yi, celebrates 55 years of beauty and culture.

time-read
6 mins  |
February 2020
Playing For His Life
OffBeat Magazine

Playing For His Life

Darius Lyndsley is on a mission to turn his art into something more.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2020
The Supreme Green Fairy
OffBeat Magazine

The Supreme Green Fairy

Tank and the Bangas reign over krewe Bohème.

time-read
10+ mins  |
February 2020
Felipe's Mexican Taqueria
OffBeat Magazine

Felipe's Mexican Taqueria

Everyone has a handful of go-to restaurants they count on for consistently delicious dining experiences.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2020