[piano intro] - How are you doing?

I'm Mark Tremonti.

Happy Holidays, and thanks for tuning in to PBS North Carolina.

There's comfort and joy listening to the music that marks the holiday season, especially that music marked by the quintessential voice of Frank Sinatra.

So in this program tonight, you're seeing songs performed by guys who shared the stage with Frank Sinatra, one of our most prized Christmas song performers.

I was blessed to be partnered with them on a few projects now, the Tremonti Sings Sinatra record and the Tremonti Christmas album.

This program is a fusion of my love for Frank Sinatra's music, and it spilled over into my passion to bring awareness to the Down Syndrome community and the needs of those with Down Syndrome, and my daughter Stella, specifically.

When she was born, it inspired me to do all I can to raise money and awareness for the cause.

And thank you so much, PBS North Carolina, for airing this.

So it's going to bring that much more attention to the cause, and I'm honored to be a part of it.

Filming this concert here in my hometown in Orlando, Florida, at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center was a huge honor for me.

I've gotten to perform with a lot of musicians over the past 30 years, bands like Metallica or Black Sabbath or Soundgarden, some of the biggest rock bands in the world.

But to be able to play with guys that played with Frank Sinatra to me is a whole another experience.

When I look back on my career, this will be one of the highlights, for sure.

We live here in Orlando, and we just got hit by a couple of storms in the past month.

And we know how devastating they can be.

So God bless you guys, and hopefully this helps a little bit.

I hope you guys enjoy it.

I hope it brings you a lot of holiday joy.

♪ Merry Christmas to you ♪ Thank you so much.

[cheering, applause] ♪ It's the most wonderful time of the year ♪ ♪ With the kids jingle belling ♪ ♪ And everyone telling you be of good cheer ♪ ♪ It's the most wonderful time of the year ♪ ♪ It's the happ-happiest season of all ♪ ♪ With those holiday greetings ♪ ♪ And gay happy meetings ♪ ♪ When friends come to call ♪ ♪ It's the happ-happiest season of all ♪ ♪ There'll be parties for hosting ♪ ♪ Marshmallows for toasting ♪ ♪ And caroling out in the snow ♪ ♪ There'll be scary ghost stories ♪ ♪ And tales of the glories ♪ ♪ Of Christmases long, long ago ♪ ♪ It's the most wonderful time of the year ♪ ♪ There'll be much mistletoeing ♪ ♪ And hearts will be glowing ♪ ♪ When loved ones are near ♪ ♪ It's the most wonderful time of the year.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ There'll be parties for hosting ♪ ♪ Marshmallows for toasting ♪ ♪ And caroling out in the snow ♪ ♪ There'll be scary ghost stories ♪ ♪ And tales of the glories ♪ ♪ Of Christmases long, long ago ♪ ♪ It's the most wonderful time of the year ♪ ♪ There'll be much mistletoeing ♪ ♪ And hearts will be glowing ♪ ♪ When loved ones are near ♪ ♪ It's the most wonderful time ♪ ♪ Yes, the most wonderful time ♪ ♪ Oh, the most wonderful time of the year ♪ All right.

[cheering, applause] You guys feeling the Christmas spirit yet?

Yes!

[cheering, applause] If you don't know this next song, you've been living under a rock.

The song is called "Jingle Bells."

["Jingle Bells" playing] [bells jingling] ♪ I love those J-I-N-G-L-E bells ♪ ♪ Bong!

♪ ♪ Those holiday J-I-N-G-L-E bells ♪ ♪ Bong!

♪ ♪ Those holiday J-I-N-G-L-E ♪ ♪ B-E double L-S ♪ ♪ I love those J-I-N-G-L-E bells ♪ ♪ Bong!

♪ ♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪ ♪ Jingle all the way ♪ ♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride ♪ ♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪ ♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪ ♪ Jingle all the way ♪ ♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride ♪ ♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪ ♪ Dashing through the snow ♪ ♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪ ♪ O'er the fields we go ♪ ♪ Laughing all the way ♪ ♪ Bells on bobtails ring ♪ ♪ Making our spirits bright ♪ ♪ What fun it is to ride and sing ♪ ♪ A sleighing song tonight ♪ ♪ Bop bop bop ♪ ♪ Bop bop bop ♪ ♪ Bop bop ♪ ♪ Boop boop bop ♪ ♪ Bop bop bop bop bop bop bop bop bop bop boop boop bop ♪ ♪ Jingle bells, jing-jingle bells ♪ ♪ Jingle all the way ♪ ♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride ♪ ♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪ ♪ I love those J-I-N-G-L-E bells ♪ ♪ Bong!

♪ ♪ Those holiday J-I-N-G-L-E bells ♪ ♪ Bong!

♪ ♪ Those happy ♪ ♪ J-I-N-G-L-E B-E-double L-S ♪ ♪ I love those jingle bells all the way ♪ ♪ Jingle all the way!

♪ Thank you.

[cheering, applause] Thank you so much.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: You do Frank proud!

- Oh, thank you, sir.

I appreciate that.

I'm going to try to do Nat King Cole proud next.

He's a little "untouchable" for me, but we'll do our best.

This song is called "The Christmas Song."

[cheering, applause] ["The Christmas Song" playing] ♪ ♪ ♪ Chestnuts roasting on an open fire ♪ ♪ Jack Frost nipping at your nose ♪ ♪ Yuletide carols being sung by a choir ♪ ♪ And folks dressed up like Eskimos ♪ ♪ Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe ♪ ♪ Help to make the season bright ♪ ♪ Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow ♪ ♪ Will find it hard to sleep tonight ♪ ♪ They know that Santa's on his way ♪ ♪ He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh ♪ ♪ And every mother's child is going to spy ♪ ♪ To see if reindeer really know how to fly ♪ ♪ And so I'm offering this simple phrase ♪ ♪ To kids from 1 to 92 ♪ ♪ Although it's been said many times, many ways ♪ ♪ Merry Christmas to you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And so I'm offering this simple phrase ♪ ♪ To kids from 1 to 92 ♪ ♪ Although it's been said many times, many ways ♪ ♪ Merry Christmas to you ♪ Thank you so much.

[cheering, applause] One more time for Mike Smith over here on the alto sax.

[cheering, applause] So this next song is a-- was an impossible challenge for me, I thought, until I dove in.

I wanted to write an original Christmas song.

So we're going to play that one for you tonight.

When I was practicing singing like Frank Sinatra, I'd say, could I write one of these types of songs?

Because it has it's such a different world than what I'm used to.

So I just started singing melodies and put a song together.

Got with these guys and got with Carey, and sang it to him.

And he orchestrated it, and these guys played it beautifully.

So this song is called "Christmas Morning."

We have a video.

It's all claymation.

Go on YouTube.

It goes back to the days of when we were kids watching Frosty the Snowman and The Year Without a Santa Claus and all that.

You'll see our family.

You'll see little Stella in that video.

But the song is called "Christmas Morning."

Hope you enjoy it.

[cheering, applause] ["Christmas Morning" playing] ♪ How nice it will be ♪ ♪ Little dreamers waiting for Christmas ♪ ♪ And now under the tree ♪ ♪ Is a prize just waiting for me ♪ ♪ In the morning, the snow will be falling ♪ ♪ I know my lady and me ♪ ♪ Will make sure our children believe ♪ ♪ In the glory of Christmas morning ♪ ♪ Christmas morning ♪ ♪ Christmas morning ♪ ♪ Christmas morning ♪ ♪ Christmas morning ♪ ♪ Sing that last Christmas song ♪ ♪ Hold on dearly, the moment is nearing ♪ ♪ And know that it won't be long ♪ ♪ 'Till the lights and our loved ones have gone ♪ ♪ In the morning, the snow will be falling ♪ ♪ I know my lady and me ♪ ♪ Will make sure our children believe ♪ ♪ In the glory of Christmas morning ♪ ♪ Christmas morning ♪ ♪ Christmas morning ♪ ♪ Christmas morning ♪ ♪ Christmas morning ♪ ♪ Now we come together ♪ ♪ Every moment we hold dear ♪ ♪ Cherish all the memories that we've ♪ ♪ made through the year ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Now we come together ♪ ♪ Hope we never drift apart ♪ ♪ Closer more than ever ♪ ♪ The best gift is in our hearts ♪ ♪ How nice it will be ♪ ♪ Little dreamers waiting for Christmas ♪ ♪ And now under the tree ♪ ♪ Is a prize just waiting for me ♪ ♪ In the morning the snow will be falling ♪ ♪ I know my lady and me ♪ ♪ Will make sure our children believe ♪ ♪ In the glory of Christmas morning.

♪ [cheering, applause] Thank you for making that special, guys.

[cheering, applause] Thank you so much.

["The First Noel" playing] ♪ The first Noel ♪ ♪ The angels did say ♪ ♪ Was to certain poor shepherds ♪ ♪ In fields as they lay ♪ ♪ In fields where they lay ♪ ♪ They were keeping their sheep ♪ ♪ On a cold winter's night that was so deep ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Born is the King of Israel ♪ ♪ They looked up and saw a star ♪ ♪ Shining in the East beyond them far ♪ ♪ And to the Earth it gave great light ♪ ♪ And so it continued both day and night ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Born is the King of Israel ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Born is the King of Israel ♪ ♪ Born is the King of Israel ♪ ♪ Born is the King of Israel!

♪ Thank you so much.

[cheering, applause] - Ah, chills!

I just love "The First Noel," one of my favorite Christmas songs.

What an incredibly beautiful rendition of this number.

Hi, everyone.

I'm Deborah Holt Noel on the staff of PBS North Carolina, and we are proud to present Christmas Classics, Tremonti Sings Sinatra, filmed at the Walt Disney Theater at Dr. Phillips Center.

We are taking a brief intermission in the program to say thank you to everyone who's made a gift of support this year.

Truly, it is your support that makes possible our ability to bring you a special like this holiday performance featuring Mark Tremonti and members of Frank Sinatra's band.

If you have just found PBS North Carolina, or if you haven't made a gift this year, please consider making a gift of $72, or an ongoing sustaining gift of $6 a month, and receive the CD, Mark Tremonti, Christmas Classics New and Old to add to your holiday music collection.

You can call 1-800-984-9090 or make your gift securely online at pbsnc.org.

I am joined right now by Rick French, Chair of PBS North Carolina's Board of Trustees and partner who helped us bring this special to our audience.

Rick, I'm so excited to have you with me.

Tell me, what inspired you to bring this show to PBS?

- Deb, what a song, right?

The crescendo on that that Mark takes us to is absolutely amazing.

So it's great to be here.

And what brought this show to our airwaves is that Mark Tremonti, who is the co-founder of the rock band Creed, is a personal friend of mine.

And I had an opportunity to view this special that he did back in his hometown of Orlando a little while back and thought that it would be a perfect opportunity to bring some holiday cheer to our viewers.

- Well, I'm so excited that you had that connection, and it indeed brings that holiday cheer.

I'm inspired already.

I just love the holiday season, don't you?

- I do love the holiday season.

I mean, to hear some of these songs-- you know, Frank Sinatra recorded this album back in 1957.

So Mark is covering some of those songs, very difficult songs to emulate.

- And you're going to hear more of them.

I can't wait.

But right now, here's more from my colleague, Caroline Francis.

- I hope you're enjoying this very special Mark Tremonti program.

I am blown away by his voice.

And one way to extend your listening pleasure is to make a contribution at the $72 level or an ongoing sustaining gift of $6 a month.

And our thank you to you is the CD, Mark Tremonti, Christmas Classics New and Old.

Call 1-800-984-9090 or make that gift securely online at pbsnc.org.

Now, this CD includes 10 tracks of studio recordings from the concerts, songs like "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "Jingle Bells," "The Christmas Song," "The First Noel," and especially Mark's original "Christmas Morning."

It was a special moment in the show for Mark in the concert.

- So in this whole program, there's one song that really sticks out to me as a special moment, and that's when we performed "Christmas Morning," which is the original song that I had written.

It was kind a-- kind of a dare my I think my father kind of put past me when I was a kid.

He's like, you have to write a Christmas song, Mark.

That will live on forever.

It just felt so right.

And I was like, could I do that?

Could I take up that challenge?

So I wrote "Christmas Morning."

This is actually the first and only time we've ever played this song.

It just came alive, and it just had that special magic.

And hopefully it does live for generations now.

- Mark makes a good point about music living on forever.

Recording this concert preserves the performance with this unique group of talented individuals.

Programs like this cross generations and create a shared experience.

As Mark put it, he hopes his song will live for generations.

This is what you expect from PBS North Carolina-- programs that preserve talents and share them for all to enjoy.

We are only able to make programs like this possible because of the generous support from viewers like you.

Consider a sustaining gift of $6 a month or a one-time gift of $72.

We are happy to send as our thank you Mark's CD, Christmas Classics, New and Old, the studio recordings of 10 songs from the programs you're enjoying.

Of course, this gift comes with Centerpiece, our monthly programming guide, and access to Passport, our on-demand library of public television programs available online.

Call 1-800-984-9090 or go online to pbsnc.org.

- We will be going back to the final segment of this concert in just a minute.

But first, Rick, tell me a little bit more about this song.

I think it's just incredible, first of all, to have the creativity to write a song, but a Christmas song.

- Amazing, absolutely amazing.

So for context, Mark is the lead guitarist with Creed, so he's not the lead vocalist.

Same thing goes with his other band, Alter Bridge.

So this was an opportunity, I think, for Mark to show his songwriting abilities, although he co-wrote many of Creed's biggest hits, as well as just his overall versatility as a vocalist.

I mean, absolutely remarkable to pull off-- to have the vocal range of Frank Sinatra.

No one can do that.

Well, almost no one can do it, except obviously Mark can.

- Classic voice.

And Mark has done it.

And we can't wait to hear more of this incredible music.

But first, this.

- You still have time to make a contribution during this intermission.

Call 1-800-984-9090 or make a gift securely online at pbsnc.org.

And with that gift at the $72 level or an ongoing sustaining gift of $6 a month, our thank you is the Mark Tremonti, Christmas Classics New and Old.

Now, we're going to be heading back to the program.

Please know we are so grateful for your support.

- A couple of weeks ago, I was doing an interview promoting the Christmas album, and a gentleman asked me if I had heard a handful of songs.

And he said, I really think you should hear this song that I had never heard of.

It came out in 1982 in England And I had never heard it before, and it blew me away.

So I called my friend, Carey Deadman.

I'm like, I know the show's a week and a half away.

Do you think-- [audience laughing] Do you think you can orchestrate a 35-piece band to pull off a song that you've never heard before?

So we've known this song for about a week and a half.

We're going to do our best to get through it.

This song is called "Walking in the Air."

We believe it's just a beautiful song, so I hope you guys like it as much as we do.

[cheering, applause] ["Walking in the Air" playing] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We're walking in the air ♪ ♪ We're floating in the moonlit sky ♪ ♪ The people far below ♪ ♪ Are sleeping as we fly ♪ ♪ I'm holding very tight ♪ ♪ I'm riding in the midnight blue ♪ ♪ I'm finding I can fly ♪ ♪ So high above with you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Far across the world ♪ ♪ The villages go by like dreams ♪ ♪ The rivers and the hills ♪ ♪ The forests and the streams ♪ ♪ Children gaze open-mouthed ♪ ♪ Taken by surprise ♪ ♪ Nobody down below ♪ ♪ Believes their eyes ♪ ♪ We're surfing in the air ♪ ♪ We're swimming in the frozen sky ♪ ♪ We're drifting over icy mountains floating by ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Suddenly swooping low ♪ ♪ On an ocean deep ♪ ♪ Rousing up the mighty monster from his sleep ♪ ♪ We're walking in the air ♪ ♪ We're dancing in the midnight sky ♪ ♪ And everyone who sees us ♪ ♪ Greets us as we fly ♪ ♪ ♪ All right.

We did it!

We got through it!

[cheering, applause] Thank you so much.

Hey, my man.

We did it.

- We did.

- This is "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."

["Santa Clause Is Coming to Town" playing] ♪ ♪ ♪ You better watch out ♪ ♪ You better not cry ♪ ♪ You better not pout ♪ ♪ I'm telling you why ♪ ♪ Santa Claus is coming to town ♪ ♪ He's making a list ♪ ♪ And checking it twice ♪ ♪ He's going to find out ♪ ♪ Who's naughty or nice ♪ ♪ Santa Claus is coming to town ♪ ♪ He sees you when you're sleeping ♪ ♪ He knows when you're awake ♪ ♪ He knows if you've been bad or good ♪ ♪ So be good, for goodness sake ♪ ♪ Oh, you better watch out ♪ ♪ You better not cry ♪ ♪ You better not pout ♪ ♪ I'm telling you why ♪ ♪ Santa Claus is coming to town ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh, you better watch out ♪ ♪ You better not cry ♪ ♪ You better not pout ♪ ♪ I'm telling you why ♪ ♪ Santa Claus is coming to town ♪ ♪ He's making a list ♪ ♪ And checking it twice ♪ ♪ He's going to find out ♪ ♪ Who's naughty or nice ♪ ♪ Santa Claus is coming to town ♪ ♪ He sees you when you're sleeping ♪ ♪ He knows if you're awake ♪ ♪ He knows if you've been bad or good ♪ ♪ So be good, for goodness sake ♪ ♪ Oh, you better watch out ♪ ♪ You better not cry ♪ ♪ You better not pout ♪ ♪ I'm telling you why ♪ ♪ Santa Claus is coming ♪ ♪ To town ♪ Thank you.

[cheering, applause] We're going to break it down again.

["Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" playing] ♪ ♪ ♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪ ♪ Let your heart be light ♪ ♪ From now on our troubles will be out of sight ♪ ♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪ ♪ Make the yuletide gay ♪ ♪ From now on, our troubles will be miles away ♪ ♪ Here we are, as in olden days ♪ ♪ Happy golden days of yore ♪ ♪ Faithful friends who are dear to us ♪ ♪ Gather near to us once more ♪ ♪ Through the years, we all will be together ♪ ♪ If the fates allow ♪ ♪ Hang a shining star upon the highest bough ♪ ♪ And have yourself a merry little Christmas now ♪ ♪ Here we are, as in olden days ♪ ♪ Happy golden days of yore ♪ ♪ Faithful friends who are dear to us ♪ ♪ Gather near to us once more ♪ ♪ Through the years we all will be together ♪ ♪ If the fates allow ♪ ♪ Hang a shining star upon the highest bough ♪ ♪ And have yourself a merry little Christmas now ♪ Thank you so much.

Thank you.

So when you put a record out, you never know what's going to-- people are going to like.

So this is the next song that got the most spins.

So on the record, this is the most popular song.

It's called "Let It Snow."

["Let It Snow" playing] ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh, the weather outside is frightful ♪ ♪ But the fire is so delightful ♪ ♪ Since we've no place to go ♪ ♪ Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ♪ ♪ It doesn't show signs of stopping ♪ ♪ And I brought some corn for popping ♪ ♪ The lights are turned down low ♪ ♪ Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ♪ ♪ When we finally kiss goodnight ♪ ♪ Oh, how I'll hate going out in the storm ♪ ♪ But if you really hold me tight ♪ ♪ All the way home, I'll be warm ♪ ♪ The fire is slowly dying ♪ ♪ And my dear, we're still goodbyeing ♪ ♪ As long as you love me so ♪ ♪ Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ It doesn't show signs of stopping ♪ ♪ And I brought lots of corn for popping ♪ ♪ The lights are way down low ♪ ♪ Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

♪ ♪ All the way home I'll be warm ♪ ♪ All the way home I'll be warm ♪ ♪ The fire is slowly dying ♪ ♪ And my dear, we're still goodbyeing ♪ ♪ As long as you love me so ♪ ♪ Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ♪ ♪ Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ♪ ♪ Let it' snow, let it snow, let it snow!

♪ Thank you so much.

I do love that song.

And when's the last time it snowed in Orlando?

So I want to introduce somebody that I love dearly.

I've shared the stage with this next gentleman for almost 30 years.

His name is the one and only Brian Marshall.

[cheering, applause] We have experienced it all together.

And he looks sharp tonight.

[cheering, applause] - Thank you.

He's right.

We've shared a lot of stages together, but none is more important than tonight.

- That's right.

Hey, that's right.

Thank you, buddy.

I love you, Brian.

[cheering, applause] All right, This song is called "This Christmas."

This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs by Donny Hathaway.

And this has been a beautiful evening.

Thank you guys so much for coming out.

Thank you for contributing to the best cause.

I mean, such a great cause, right?

[cheering, applause] Every one of these tickets helps.

The Smile for Stella clinic, and we're so proud to have been a part of that.

And we're so proud to be in this room with you guys.

And I'm so proud to share the stage with these wonderful musicians who are helping out the cause as well.

One more time, make as much noise as you can for these gentlemen up here, these ladies up here.

[cheering, applause] Yes, stand up, please.

[cheering, applause] All right, here we go.

["This Christmas" playing] ♪ ♪ ♪ Hang all the mistletoe ♪ ♪ I'm going to get to know you better ♪ ♪ This Christmas ♪ ♪ And as we trim the tree ♪ ♪ How much fun it's going to be together ♪ ♪ This Christmas ♪ ♪ The fireside is blazing bright ♪ ♪ We're caroling through the night ♪ ♪ And this Christmas will be ♪ ♪ A very special Christmas for me ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Presents and cards are here ♪ ♪ My world is filled with cheer and you ♪ ♪ This Christmas ♪ ♪ And as I look around ♪ ♪ Your eyes outshine the town, they do ♪ ♪ This Christmas ♪ ♪ The fireside is blazing bright ♪ ♪ We're caroling through the night ♪ ♪ And this Christmas will be ♪ ♪ A very special Christmas for me ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Merry Christmas ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Ooh, the fireside is blazing bright ♪ ♪ We're caroling through the night ♪ ♪ And this Christmas will be ♪ ♪ A very special Christmas for me ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Merry Christmas ♪ ♪ Ooh, yeah ♪ ♪ A very merry Christmas ♪ ♪ Shake a hand, shake a hand, now ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Ooh, yeah ♪ How much noise can you make.

Orlando?

[cheering, applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ All right.

Oh, thank you.

One more time for the amazing Brian Marshall right here, yeah?

[cheering, applause] You'll see him on stage with Alter Bridge and Creed.

[cheering, applause] Give me a hug.

Love you, brother.

[cheering, applause] Yes.

I'm getting sad.

The night is almost over.

But again, did you guys have fun tonight?

Yes.

And make as much noise as you can if you're going to come back here next year when we play again, right here.

[cheering, applause] Thank you.

This next song to me is classic Christmas.

This is the most epic, I think, of the Christmas songs, and one of the most special songs.

And probably one of the hardest songs that I had ever recorded in the studio.

But the song is called "O Holy Night," so I hope you guys enjoy it.

And I hope you guys enjoyed this evening.

Thank you so much for coming tonight.

[cheering, applause] ["O Holy Night" playing] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ O holy night ♪ ♪ The stars are brightly shining ♪ ♪ It is the night of our dear Savior's birth ♪ ♪ Long lay the world in sin and error pining ♪ ♪ Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth ♪ ♪ A thrill of hope ♪ ♪ The weary world rejoices ♪ ♪ For yonder breaks ♪ ♪ A new and glorious morn ♪ ♪ Fall on your knees ♪ ♪ O hear the angel voices ♪ ♪ O night divine ♪ ♪ O night when Christ was born ♪ ♪ O night divine ♪ ♪ O night, o night divine ♪ ♪ Truly he taught us ♪ ♪ To love one another ♪ ♪ His law is love ♪ ♪ And his gospel is peace ♪ ♪ Chains shall he break ♪ ♪ For the slave is our brother ♪ ♪ And in His name all oppression shall cease ♪ ♪ Sweet hymns of joy ♪ ♪ In grateful chorus raise we ♪ ♪ Let all within us ♪ ♪ Praise His holy name ♪ ♪ Fall on your knees ♪ ♪ O hear the angel voices ♪ ♪ O night divine ♪ ♪ O night when Christ was born ♪ ♪ Night divine ♪ ♪ O night divine ♪ ♪ O night ♪ ♪ O night divine!

♪ Thank you so much.

[cheering, applause] Thank you so much.

You guys are beautiful.

Thank you.

Merry, merry Christmas to everybody.

One more time for these beautiful musicians, these geniuses up here.

Yes, I love all of you guys.

I want to do this more often.

DEBORAH HOLT NOEL: Truly an outstanding voice.

And this is another favorite, "O Holy Night," Mark Tremonti singing "O Holy Night."

What a fabulous special that Mark has created for us all.

He is an immensely talented artist.

We are so happy to bring this to you and hope that it sparks holiday cheer for you and your family.

If you enjoyed this program, I ask you to consider making a contribution of support to PBS North Carolina with a gift of $72, or a sustaining gift of $6 a month ongoing.

Our thank you is the CD, Mark Tremonti, Christmas Classics New and Old.

You can call 1-800-984-9090 or make your gift securely online at pbsnc.org.

Once again, I am joined by Rick French, Chair of the PBS North Carolina Board of Trustees.

Rick, thank you again for bringing this incredible music to us.

Just reminds me of a bygone era.

- Well, I wish I could take credit, but I'm going to give all the credit to Mark Tremonti for allowing us to air his special tonight.

Amazing, absolutely remarkable.

To be able to have the vocal range that he has to do those songs is just something that very, very few artists in the world could pull off.

- And to really bring back that style in an original way with his original music, but also bringing this music back that so many people cherish.

- Absolutely.

And when Frank Sinatra recorded these songs, these were the days of Buddy Holly and Little Richard and John Coltrane and so on.

Frank Sinatra was not a particularly large artist at the time.

What's interesting about the Christmas album that he released at that time is that he released the Christmas album.

And 10 days later, he released a regular pop album, which you'd never see in music today.

- Wow, that is pretty amazing.

And I think it's so interesting, too, that the musicians who play on this are also from Frank Sinatra's band, correct?

- They are.

- And so talented.

- Amazing.

- Well, I'm so glad that we were able to bring this to you.

But here's more.

- I love the joy of the holiday season this program evokes.

Even more special is Mark's original song, which he includes in the studio recordings of this holiday special.

Make a contribution at the $72 level, or a sustaining gift of $6 a month ongoing, and our thank you is the Mark Tremonti, Christmas Classics New and Old CD.

Call 1-800-984-9090, or make the gift securely online at pbsnc.org.

Now, again, that CD includes 10 tracks of studio recordings, songs like "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "Jingle Bells," "The Christmas Song," "Christmas Morning," Mark's original song, "The First Noel."

Others like "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and "O Holy Night," just to name a few.

Call 1-800-984-9090, or make that gift securely online at pbsnc.org.

Of course, this gift comes with Centerpiece, our monthly programming guide and access to Passport, our on-demand library of public television programs available online.

Call 1-800-984-9090 or go online to pbsnc.org.

- Your donations allow PBS North Carolina to serve every corner of our state through content and experiences, sparking conversations, amplifying diverse perspectives, and connecting communities, something that you have come to expect from PBS North Carolina.

In fact, Rick, there had to be a moment, I would say, when you realized this is really something that I want to invest in.

- I think it was probably the moment when my parents sat me on the couch in front of the television set and turned on Sesame Street.

And I think I've had PBS moments the rest of my life.

So it's a privilege to serve this organization, to serve the citizens of the state of North Carolina, and to bring this kind of programming to it.

I mean, this is what we were here for.

- And I can say that as well.

It is a privilege to be a part of everything that this network brings to our viewers.

And right now, we would love for you to show your applause for Mark's program and programs like this by calling 1-800-984-9090 or making a gift securely online at pbsnc.org.

- This concert was an incredible honor to produce, and collaborating with these amazing musicians is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Thanks for inviting us into your homes.

It's viewers like you that make this possible.

So this content wouldn't be possible on your station without your help.

So keep on tuning in, and you'll have generations of content to come for your station and all of PBS.

- We are grateful to Mark Tremonti for bringing this special, filmed at the Walt Disney Theater at Dr. Phillips Center.

Show your applause for this program by making a contribution at the $72 level, or an ongoing sustaining gift of $6 a month.

And our thank you is the Mark Tremonti, Christmas Classics New and Old CD.

Call 1-800-984-9090, or make that gift online at pbsnc.org.

Again, this CD includes 10 tracks of studio recordings from the concert, songs like "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "The Christmas Song," "The First Noel," as well as "Christmas Morning," Mark's original song.

Again, make a contribution by calling 1-800-984-9090, or make that gift securely online at pbsnc.org.

Of course, your contribution includes Centerpiece, our monthly programming guide, and access to Passport, our on-demand library of quality public television programs available online.

- I just want to say, Rick, thank you so much for partnering with PBS North Carolina to bring this special to our viewers.

I have enjoyed it so much.

- Deb, it was my pleasure to be here tonight.

And I want to extend a special thanks to my friend, Dale Torborg, who introduced me to Mark Tremonti.

So Dale and Mark, thank you for all that you did to allow our viewers to really kick off the holiday season in a grand style.

What an amazing performance.

- And you know, a lot of times for me, it's the music that really reminds me of that holiday season, reminds me of family, and reminds me of joy.

And that's what it's really all about, right?

- It really is.

I mean, we're here at PBS North Carolina to bring joy to communities.

And I think that this show certainly has done that.

- It absolutely has.

And I just want to remind all of you to give your support to us by giving a call to 1-800-984-9090, or you can make your gift securely online at pbsnc.org.

Thanks so much to all of you for watching and supporting PBS North Carolina.

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