H ere’s an interesting fact to win your next holiday music history trivia night: “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms has played on the radio every single holiday season since its release in 1957. Yet, there’s still one surprising controversy that remains: Did Bobby Helms and his lead guitarist write the song? Hank Garland — Helms’ lead guitarist — was an exceptional musician, one whom Elvis Presley described as "one of the finest guitar players anywhere in the world." When Garland and Helms teamed up to create “Jingle Bell Rock,” they expertly adapted it from a song called “Jingle Bell Hop” and made significant changes, from changing lyrics to adding a bridge (“It’s a fine time / It’s the right time / To rock the night away”). However, Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe did write a majority of the music and melody, and many people had covered versions of “Jingle Bell Rock” before Helms’ version became famous. So, while Helms and Garland didn’t necessarily write the song, it’s arguable that they did deserve some writing credit for adapting the song so significantly. THE SURPRISING STORY BEHIND THE LEGENDARY ‘JINGLE BELL ROCK’
Unfortunately, Helms and Garland were never credited for their writing contributions to the song and never received subsequent
FESTIVE APPLE CIDER
writing royalties. It was estimated in 2001 that the music industry owed them over $100 million for their hits including “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Sugarfoot Rag.” Don’t let that get you down, though! Most musicians experience a fade of
If you’re cutting back on calories, skip the eggnog and buttered rum this year and fill up your mug with this delicious mulled cider!
INGREDIENTS
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1 lemon
2 tsp allspice berries
1 gallon pure apple cider
1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced
1 large orange, thinly sliced crosswise
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2 tbsp honey
popularity (and royalties) in their music as time goes by. One special thing about “Jingle Bell Rock” is the fact that its popularity has only grown exponentially. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart upon release but, over 60 years later, reached No. 8 in the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2019. Helms broke the record for the longest wait to be in the Hot 100’s top 10 after 60 years. The recording even reached a new peak at No. 3 on Jan. 4, 2020.
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2 tsp whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
DIRECTIONS
1. Using a paring knife, shave the lemon peel off in curls. Reserve the curls and save the lemon for use in a different recipe.
2. In a large slow cooker, combine the lemon peel with all other ingredients. Cook on low for 3–4 hours.
3. If desired, use a sieve to strain the spices. Serve and enjoy!
Thanks for reading! We hope you get to jam out to “Jingle Bell Rock” this holiday season!
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