Dana Tyson in the Morning

Dana Tyson in the Morning

Listen live to Dana Tyson in the Morning! It's all about positivism and something good. On SUNNY 99.1 in Houston, Texas! 99.1 On your FM dial or via...Full Bio

 

Christmas Is Here by Johnny Gondese of Cypress, TX

Dana was talking about this on the air today. Christmas Is Here was written and recorded by Cypress, TX dad, Johnny Gondesen, in 1965. It was originally released as a 45 record.

(KTRK) reports...

At 83-years-old, Johnny Gondesen has a Christmas wish.
"I want something to happen to this song before I go to meet my maker," he said from his Cypress home. The song is called "Christmas Is Here," and it has a sweet backstory to match the season. He grew up playing guitar, and singing in a Galveston country western band as a young man.
Later he married his high school sweetheart, and they had a family.
"We'd drive to Houston for Christmas shopping, and there were tree lots along the Gulf freeway. The kids would cry 'ho-ho-ho' when they saw the Christmas trees. I said, 'Ho-ho-ho. What can I do with that?'"
What he did was write the song, adding a 'hee-hee-hee', and the lyrics that described the joy of Christmas, with Santa coming down the chimney. His son, Johnny Jr. said the song is nostalgic and speaks of another time, and sparks memories.
"We grew up on that song."


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