'Tis the Season...We have a special "gift" for you this Christmas week! Laura performed an AWESOME holiday medley back in 1983 for hit music TV series SOLID GOLD's Christmas special. It started off with a crafty and clever meld of the hymn "Gloria" with Laura's mega-hit "Gloria," followed by the classics "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". This Christmas medley was brilliantly arranged and produced by Solid Gold's musical director and theme composer, Michael Miller. Michael has so graciously provided this insightful piece below for all of us. THANK YOU so much, Michael!
SOLID GOLD Host Dionne Warwick and Musical Director Michael Miller
SOLID GOLD Host Dionne Warwick and Musical Director Michael Miller"Throughout all the years when I was Musical Director of Paramount’s 80s hit TV series, SOLID GOLD, I worked with many incredible artists, but one who clearly stood out was Laura Branigan. She not only had an extraordinary voice that allowed her to sing in any style and pour her feelings directly into the hearts of millions from all walks of life, she was also one of the kindest and most charismatic human beings I’ve ever encountered.
But what I remember even more was her quirky sense of humor, which made her frequent presence on our set a breath of fresh air for me, because I finally had someone who would laugh at my wild and crazy jokes. Of course, considering her quirkiness, I shouldn’t have been surprised when she wholeheartedly said yes to performing a wacky Christmas arrangement of mine for one of our Solid Gold Christmas Specials. But, in actuality, I was TOTALLY surprised, because I couldn’t imagine Laura — a huge global popstar well-known for her powerfully impactful records — wanting to sing such a lighthearted medley that meshed together the Christian hymn, “Gloria“, with her hit “Gloria“, as well as “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas“ and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town“. I’m so glad she did, though, because the end result has become my go-to music to listen to every Christmas season!"
- Michael Miller, Musical Director, SOLID GOLD