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Article published Dec 10, 2006

One more drink, one more song can lead to one more

With mistletoe and the spirit of giving in the air, it's no wonder that Christmas gets us in the mood for love.
Cold holiday nights are heated up with plenty of love and passion.

The evenings usually start in a cozy setting with dinner and drinks for two and your favorite love ballad playing in the background.
And nine months later, comes the real gift -- a bouncing baby boy or girl.
Why else would September be one of the most common birth months, according to the National Vital Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?

Seniors used to listen to crooners such as Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Bing Crosby. They had both plenty of ballads and Christmas music to help make the Christmas season brighter.
Next came the baby boomers and the songs of Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis and plenty of Elvis Presley to get them rocking through the holidays.

The 1970s brought us the "maestro of love," Barry White, who made hearts thump when he used to sing, "You're The First, The Last, My Everything." White's voice and lyrics were so inspiring that his music was used to help get pandas in the mood. Some of those pandas were probably born in September.

So what about now? The death of Gerald Levert last month and the death of Luther Vandross last year seems to have left a void in the number of "Great Balladeers" to help get us in the mood.
Or is there a void?

Are there enough smooth and sultry balladeers left to help make the night right and season bright?
"When you think about Barry White and Luther Vandross, you don't think anyone can compare to them," said Doug Davis, a former disc jockey and promotions manager for WJMZ 107.3 FM.

"Back in the 1960s and early '70s, people were saying the same things because of the death of Nat King Cole, and then came Barry White and Luther Vandross."
Davis said rhythm and blues fans don't have to be discouraged because singers Brian McKnight and John Legend should be around for a long time. McKnight is an established rhythm and blues singer and Legend is one of the rising talents.

Jazz and pop fans can rely on the smooth sounds of Harry Connick Jr., Chris Isaak and Michael Bolton.