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| Michael McDonald's Christmas Album Reaches Gold Hallmark announced today that Michael McDonald's "Through the Many Winters, A Christmas Album, " has gone Gold. The ten-track album reached Gold status (500, 000 copies sold) two weeks after its release and a full week before Thanksgiving, a holiday that is acknowledged to kick off Christmas shopping. The announcement was made by Ann Herrick, integrated marketing manager at Hallmark. Hallmark is the only specialty retailer to have achieved Platinum and Goldcertification of their CDs, sold only at their retail outlets. Hallmark CDs are sold exclusively by more than 4, 000 Hallmark Gold Crown stores and are available for a limited time. Each CD has a focused, seasonal or event theme. Hallmark has offered holiday music since the mid 1980s with such recording artists as Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Olivia Newton-John, Natalie Cole and Tony Bennett, among others. Last year's "James Taylor: A Christmas Album, " was certified Platinum just 44 days after its release. It was followed by Martina McBride's 2005 Hallmark Valentine's Day CD, certified Gold in nine days. "Through the Many Winters, A Christmas Album" includes songs selected and recorded by Michael for this special album. The title track is a new holiday classic co-written by Michael and his wife, Amy Holland. The album features a unique and diverse selection of songs, capturing the special ways in which people around the world celebrate the holiday season. Michael McDonald's distinctive voice and unique singing style helped launch him into international fame soon after he joined the Doobie Brothers in the late 1970s. Among their many Grammy-Award winning, Platinum and Gold hits are McDonald's "What A Fool Believes, " "Taking It To The Streets, " and "Minute By Minute." During his decades-long career with the Doobie Brothers, as a solo artist, in live performances and recordings with other noted artists including James Ingram and Patti LaBelle, McDonald earned a stellar reputation for what is often called his "Blue-Eyed Soul" delivery of new and classic songs. His renditions of Motown hits recently earned him his first Platinum record as a solo artist and two additional Grammy nominations. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |