Santa is a black man, and he lives in New Orleans

(via @hbo) pic.twitter.com/5dnyauqeEf

— VICE News (@VICENews) December 22, 2017

So obviously, Akim & Teddy obviously had it right when in 1973, they soulfully sang: “Santa Claus is a Black man, Santa Claus is a Back man and he’s handsome, like my daddy too”…

Fred Parker has become so popular as Black Santa in the N.O., that parents who once sat on his lap to take their Christmas photo when they were youngins, now bring their kids to do the same thing. It’s the one chance in New Orleans that many African American kids will have the opportunity to truly believe that there is a Santa Claus who looks like them as well. That sentiment is shared by many parents, such as N.O. residents, Dione Joseph-Breckenridge and Kimberly Davis, who told Nola.com they’re happy to have a Black Santa for their children:

Resident Dione Joseph-Breckenridge told VICE that Parker’s role was important because it gives black children a character they can relate to. Her comments were echoed by resident Kimberly Davis. “For me, this is just really about representation, and so this was a part of my childhood and I want to share that with him so when he grows up he’ll be like ‘Yeah, Santa Claus is a black man,” Davis told VICE when referring to her son’s experience with Parker.

https://twitter.com/BadddGalParee/status/812000610157522944

Black Santa a.k.a. Fred Parker was once a school bus driver and now he spends his Christmas holidays sometimes having to convince a few skeptical children that he’s the “real” Santa, LOL. Here’s how:

“So I tell them, ‘Pull this beard off my face,’” says Parker.

Parents on Twitter also love to reminisce and proudly boast on their kids now crossing that bridge to create their own Black Santa memory:

https://twitter.com/MayaInTheSkyah/status/812034550532603904

https://twitter.com/Fresh_Logic/status/842946167033991168

This black Santa in New Orleans might be the real Santa. He apparently never ages. https://t.co/sLGDh2WLJU pic.twitter.com/YaqrocF1hb

— Mic (@mic) December 23, 2016

https://twitter.com/super_von/status/812046469511467008

https://twitter.com/BrysonJohnson_/status/811821575892860928

https://twitter.com/twwinklee/status/811652600756129801

https://twitter.com/NexusDei/status/944638123576672256

https://twitter.com/quintonboudwin/status/944230432006172677

I gotta pop a baby out just so my baby can have a picture with black Santa from New Orleans just like me.

— Southern Belle (@SeauxEliza) December 8, 2017

https://twitter.com/freedomsdrum/status/944559045532372992

It would be great for children of all races- Black, White, Latino, Asian, etc.- to have a Santa Claus who represents them.  Although we have yet to see a Santa for each race become as popular as the one Black Santa the kids in New Orleans get to see, it’s a great start with the legacy Fred Parker continues to build. Merry Christmas ILOSM family.

The post Thousands Of People Love This Black Santa & His Remarkable Story Is Unheard Of appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

When the late great soul legend, Donny Hathaway, released “This Christmas” in 1971, little did he know that it would be come one of the staple soul Christmas classics for the next 40+ years and counting. There’s not a Christmas that goes by, that we, lovers of soulful Christmas carols, don’t listen to Hathaway singing, “Hang all the mistletoe, I’m gonna get to know you better, THIS CHRISTMAS.” Hathaway’s delivery and vocals, combined with the lyrics- which added a perfect blend of Christmas scenery and romance to the song- repeatedly give us that sense of Old School nostalgia every time, and never gets old.

Meet The Woman Responsible For “This Christmas”

Speaking of the song’s lyrics, we wanted to shed light on who is actually responsible for them. That woman is a now 77 year old Chicago, IL native, who until now, has gotten very little public praise for her hard work. Had it not been for this woman’s intense dedication to songwriting, as she was working at her post office job in 1967, Donny would have NEVER been able to grace us with his 1971 Christmas classic. ILoveOldSchoolMusic family, we introduce you to “This Christmas” creator, Nadine McKinnor…

McKinnor Earns Decent Paper EVERY Year From “This Christmas”
During a recent interview with Chicago Tribune, McKinnor revealed that she no longer has any need to work at her prior postal, nor secretarial jobs, because “This Christmas” has been the gift that keeps on giving. For the past few decades, McKinnor has earned  $70,000 annually from her classic creation. Here is what else she revealed about how she got her song in the hands of Donny and why she ultimately had to sue over it…

CT reports: Nadine McKinnor, a Chicago postal worker who kept a notebook full of lyrics, would jot down songs as they came to her. McKinnor, who is now 76, lives in Chatham, [IL]. […] “I loved (Cole’s) ‘The Christmas Song’ and was trying to capture the swirl of music, department store windows, lights on the South Side — Chicago at Christmas,” McKinnor said. “It’s like I’m talking about a love affair with the atmosphere of the holiday. My kids were little then, I was out shopping for toys, enjoying the mood. It’s a romance with the season.”

She Didn’t Know Who Hathaway Was

She had never heard of Hathaway. She was hoping Andy Williams would record the song. But a boyfriend at the time who was doing interior design at Hathaway and Powell’s offices overheard them discussing a need for new material; he recommended McKinnor, who offered them a few songs.

“Watching Donny work was like watching a designer,” McKinnor remembers, “someone who weaved threads and colors, though here, sounds and chord changes.” The line about “Fireside blazing bright” was inspired by the two fireplaces she would sit in front of, shuttling between the homes of her divorced parents. And the line “Gonna get to know you better”? Inspired a bit by slight folk-pop group Spanky and Our Gang, which you might remember from the 1968 AM-radio earworm “Like to Get to Know You.” -via CT

Why She Had To Sue For Her Money

Via CT: In 1998, McKinnor — previously credited as co-writer with Hathaway on the song — came to a settlement with Warner Bros. and Hathaway’s estate (which jointly hold the rights); she is now also credited as co-publisher on the song. Long retired from her office desk days, she said she makes around $70,000 annually on the song’s royalties.

Hathaway’s Legacy Lives On After His Death

Donny Hathaway sadly committed suicide at the age of 33, as a result of his schizophrenia episode. He jumped from his 15th story hotel room at New York’s Essex House hotel on January 13, 1979.

Thankfully though, in addition to many popular artists remaking his and McKinnor’s “This Christmas” song throughout the years, Donny’s legacy also continues to live through his daughter, Lalah, as well. We love us some Lalah Hathaway, here at ILOSM, and congratulate her on her 2016 Grammy win for the remake of her Pops’ song, “Little Ghetto Boy.” Pretty sure, her father would be beyond proud of his little girl’s accomplishments and humbled by the homage she pays him. Rest on Donny Hathaway.

The post She Wrote Hathaway’s “This Christmas” Song But The Money She Earns From It Yearly Is Incredible appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause”- Jackson 5

“Santa Claus Is A Black Man”- Akim & Teddy Vann

“Merry Christmas Baby”- Otis Redding

“The Christmas Song”- Nat King Cole

“Please Come Home For Christmas”- Charles Brown

This Christmas- Donny Hathaway

Santa Clause Go Straight To The Ghetto- James Brown

The post Our Top 15 Favorite Christmas Soulful Songs appeared first on I Love Old School Music.