Norm Lewis

Deck the halls, trim the tree, and spin the dreidel. BroadwayWorld is continuing our tradition of celebrating the holiday season with a 12 Days of Christmas countdown. This year we've invited the incomparable Norm Lewis to share his favorite holiday performances. Check out Norm's full list of selections

I would be remiss if I did not include this angel in my 12 Days Of Christmas choices. Yes, the singular voice of Karen Carpenter. Arguably the most perfect pop voice of all time. Effortless. Full of pathos. Perfect. I remember hearing her beautiful voice ringing throughout our house during the holiday season. It always made me feel like I was being wrapped by a warm blanket whenever she sang.

'On the 11th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...' the opportunity to share some real joy with you, from my heart. I'd be crazy not to include this video in my choices of 12, on the penultimate day of this fun feature from BroadwayWorld. Yes... it's ME! Last year, my first ever Christmas album was released and this was truly a dream I had fantasized for quite a while, coming to fruition. Richard Jay-Alexander and I produced it (during August), like most holiday albums, and Richard played me this song written by Jay Landers and Walter Afanasieff. He insisted we had to do it and I certainly loved it, but wasn't sure I had the right voice for it. Walter, of course, wrote and produced 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' with Mariah Carey and, now, here was a song written by the same guy, this time with Jay Landers.

On Day 9, I am thinking of all the holiday movies that were on television and in our homes every single year. WHITE CHRISTMAS was always one of my favorites. I was in awe of the costumes, the dancing, the singing, the story of love and romance and also seeing everyone pull together to put on a grand show. And the reveal of the soldiers and snow actually falling at the end never failed to fill my heart... no matter how many times I saw it!

I had a blast curating BroadwayWorld's 12 Days of Christmas. It went by so fast... and now, Christmas is here! This song is 25 years old and I wanna GIVE IT UP for our girl, Mariah Carey, because this year, her song FINALLY made it to #1 on the Billboard Charts. I say , a?oeIt was worth the wait, Mariah.a?? It already was a classic but, now, the deal is sealed... in history!

OK...this just makes me HAPPY! In junior high school I found a new Christmas Song I love to play every year. I'm even smiling as I write this :)

This song always reminds me of my father. He Loved B.B. King and this was always on rotation with our many Christmas albums. I found this rare live performance of the legend doing his version that is so embedded in my heart.

On this sixth day of the 12 days of Christmas, I need to thank BroadwayWorld, Robert Diamond and Nicole Rosky for asking me to curate this year's edition. I never dreamed it would be so much fun and bring back so many memories of holiday seasons past. Here's an iconic group, The Temptations, singing 'Silent Night.' We had many albums in our home by the legendary Motown group, but this one was definitely played over and over during the holidays. I immediately flash to my high school and college years when I hear it. Magic.

I loved cartoons on Saturday mornings growing up, but I looked forward to watching them in primetime during the holidays. Some of my favorites were Frosty, Rudolph, The Little Drummer Boy, and A Charlie Brown Christmas (especially the dance and Linus' speech). Even though they were the same stories told over and over again, I was riveted every year. I guess because in my mind both the fictional stories and the religious stories were all real to me. I loved the music and would sing along with so much joy.

I love Vanessa Williamsa?? but who doesn't? She's a singular woman with an equally singular career and we have worked together on the stage and in film and always have a great time. She's incredibly beautiful, wildly intelligent, supremely talented, and... she's a great mom. She has recorded many albums and topped the charts with some unforgettable singles but many people aren't aware of a beautiful Christmas album she recorded, titled 'Star Bright'. I love the album and love this particular cut and video. 

Anyone who knows me knows that my love for Johnny Mathis is infinite. He was a singer I recognized, very early on, who looked like me and made all that beautiful sound- making contact with the most glorious music and lyrics. I'd be lying if I didn't say he was a huge influence on me. He also became synonymous with Christmas and the holiday season. I could never have dreamed that one day I would get to sing with him, but blessed as I've been, it happened. I love him, I love this song... and I love that fireplace!

Andy Williams was a staple in our house growing up. He had those great Christmas specials every year on NBC and they always made you feel cozy and special and spirited. Great sets, costumes, sketches and terrific music. It was traditional, and he always wore great sweaters. Needless to say, all of this made me want to have a traditional-looking cover for my first Christmas album. All the stars used to sing the same handful of songs, but it was the arrangements that made them stick in your brain. No matter what he sang, I was always happy to see and hear Andy Williams. This song is a particular favorite- 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.'

The Supremes' 'Merry Christmas' album was the first one off the shelf every year, which in my house, growing up, marked the official beginning of the holiday season. We would trim the tree to this record and others to come. This is my absolute favorite and why I have sung that song now for years. In this video, they perform the song on The Ed Sullivan Show, with the ORIGINAL Supremes: Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson. It aired on CBS on Dec. 4, 1966, and was unforgettable ... and indicative of the kind of preparation that was paid attention to by Motown, in presenting all of their acts.