On Sunday evening, December 5, Winnsboro Center for the Arts had a full house for True Blue Christmas. Shannon Monk and George Gagliardi of True Blue co-produced the show and were among the performers as well.
The True Blue regulars - Shannon, George Gagliardi, Rick Murray and Ben Scarborough - were joined by Kurt Bittner, Richard Shanks, Harold and Judy Shelton, Lynn Adler and Lindy Hearne, the Ramsey family including Carey, James, Emma, Johanna, Grace Sarah Anne and Mathew Ramsey, plus Brennan Murray and James Monk.
The advance information about the show promised an evening that was reminiscent of the Christmas TV specials of the 60s and 70s. It was all that, and more. The high-energy program sparkled with enchanting and touching favorites with a touch of True Blue jazz and blues in the arrangements. The Ramsey Sisters sang back-up to several of Shannon's songs.
Kurt Bittner, a jazz musician from Sulphur Springs well known to Winnsboro music lovers, played a special arrangement of "Baby It's Cold Outside" with George Gagliardi. "Jingle Bells Meets Tequila" featured Bittner and Richard Shanks.
Youngsters played an important part in the evening's performance. Sarah Anne and Matthew Ramsey sang "That's What I want for Christmas." Brennan Murray joined his dad, Rick, for a sketch called "A Lesson for Daddy." James Monk sang, "All I want for Christmas."
Two original songs by George Gagliardi were included in the evening.He performed "The Christmas Child" and Shannon performed "I Believe in Miracles at Christmastime". Another orginial song, "If I Had Been In Bethlehem," written by Lindy Hearne and H. Greenwood, was tenderly sung by Lynn Adler and Lindy.
Harold Shelton sang 'The Christmas Song", Rick Murray performed "Merry Christmas Baby" and Carey Ramsey sang a touching rendition of "Count Your Blessings".
The audience joined in for several carols before the finale. The holiday spirits ran high throughout the evening and the group was buzzing after the performance concluded.
Below are a number of shots taken by Lindy Hearne during the performance.
