The perfect recording for Christmas Eve. Years ago, when I was a struggling actor in NYC, my best friend Carlye discovered Mannheim Steamroller’s first holiday album, Christmas. Mannheim Steamroller’s founder, Chip Davis, had found the perfect formula of light, airy instrumental versions of favorite holiday songs. The first time Carlye played this for me, we were huddled up in our sweats about 10 pm on Christmas Eve. With only candles lit in our small one-bedroom apartment, and our version of “egg nog” – egg nog, amaretto, and a bit of vanilla bean ice cream – we sat quietly enjoying our inexpensive real Christmas tree as this played out in the shadows. The last-minute or so always leads me to imagine Santa and the elves working through the winter, getting ready for the big night. And as the toy piano and jingle bells play, the wind at the north pole whips up to send him out into the night. To this day, one of my favorite memories AND traditions, thanks to my BFF Carlye. Looking back at how little we thought we had, it’s amazing to know how much we really did. Happy Christmas everyone.
In full rotation in my house every Christmas season. What I love about Vanessa’s recordings is she reveals, alongside stunning vocals, her rich and artful musicianship. Her brilliant arranger/music director on her holiday albums, Rob Mathes, brings rich and rhythmic gospel flavor to these takes on “Do You Hear What I Hear” and “The Drummer Boy.” If you don’t have Vanessa Williams’ holiday albums, you’re missing out. Love, love, love.
Branden James (right) with his husband, cellist James Clark Musician and now-author Branden James first captivated millions as a finalist on Season 8 of America’s Got Talentin 2013 where he received high praise from the judges for his emotional, operatic vocals. During his time in the national spotlight, he hit more than one perfect note as he shared details of his coming out story and his broken ties with his religious family with the TV audience. In his recently released memoir, Lyrics of My Life: My Journey with Family, HIV, and Reality TV, Branden highlights the conflicts of growing up gay in a world that looked upon his true self and beliefs as an impractical, sinful way of life. Through it all, he was surprised by one startling realization: how vital it is to be completely authentic in order to help others, as well as continue to heal himself. Lyrics of My Life is authentically Branden sparing no details about his lack of stability as a young adult, estrangement from his close-knit family, and, despite it all, his unbreakable will to overcome adversity. Searching for his own personal freedom, Branden finds reconciliation with his family, rediscovers his faith, and realizes that affliction and hardship are not what define us as human beings. The response to Lyrics of My Life has been awesome. Among many to praise the memoir were the readers of POZ who voted the book ‘Best in Literature’ for 2020.
Since his time on America’s Got Talent, Branden has performed for Pope Benedict and The Mandela Family in South Africa. He has also performed at The Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. He currently tours internationally with his husband, Australian cellist, James Clark in a cello and vocal duo called Branden & James. If you travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in the near future, the terrific twosome are in residence at The Palm Cabaret through February 2021 with their new show, The Lady Gaga Songbook. But, for now, join me as I chat with the oh-so-talented talented Branden James. Lyrics of my Life: My Journey with Family, HIV, and Reality TV is available at all major booksellers including Amazon.
Who’s looking for a new podcast to follow? Check out co-hosts Bobby Griffith, Jim (just Jim), and The Miz (Anthony Villiotti) every Wednesday for their fun-filled gay podcast, She’s Not Doing So Well, an irreverent yet empathetic look at everyday life through an LGBTQ+ lens. Described by the crew as a ‘recipe for disaster stemming from unexpected encounters,’ She’s Not Doing So Well provides insightful discussions on topics ranging from relationships and sex to gay life and mental health while incorporating edgy humor to leave their listeners begging for more. “We have no rules and love to talk about things we don’t know much about to be able to learn and grow,” reads the show’s official description. “Nothing is off-limits.” The hour-long episodes delve into commentary and experiences that inspire audiences to transition from surviving to thriving in the cultural challenges that we face as humans as well as some wholesome gay comedy. Check out the guys’ latest episode below and you can find the full catalog of 60+ episodes on Apple Podcasts here.
Dan Levy accepting his trophy at the 2020 Emmy Awards (screen capture) Some news items you might have missed: • Instinct Magazine: Emmy Award-winner Dan Levy (above) is working on a number of new projects including a new romantic comedy that he may star in. • WeHoVille: West Hollywood’s City Council unanimously approved creating a crosswalk painted in the colors of the transgender flag on Monday night and also updating the rainbow crosswalks to add the colors brown and black to symbolize greater inclusivity. • Out Music: Out Norwegian musician Marie Ulven (aka girl in red) drops this lovely melancholy pop bop, “two queens in a king-sized bed.” Since being discovered on Soundcloud five years ago, Ulven has impressed music fans with her ethereal sound as well as her choosing to lean into her queerness.
• CNN: Donald Trump has begun issuing presidential pardons and among the recipients are former Reps. Chris Collins and Duncan Hunter. Both are Republicans, and both were the first in Congress to endorse Trump for president. • Philly Inquirer: Looks like we found that ‘voter fraud’ folks have been talking about. A man in Delaware county registered his dead mother and mother-in-law to vote using their IDs, and he then cast a mail-in ballot…..for Donald Trump. The 70-year-old admitted to casting the illegal ballot to “further the campaign of Donald Trump.” • The Herald: A wedding venue in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, – the Warehouse on Ivy – denied a same-sex couple the opportunity to hold their wedding there citing its ‘Christian values.’ North Carolina is one of 27 states with no statewide laws offering protection from discrimination against the LGBTQ community.
N. Carolina wedding venue denies lesbian couple, citing ‘Christian values’
Singer/songwriter Tom Goss ‘Christmas 2020’Randy Report favorite Tom Goss shares his new holiday tune, Christmas 2020. It’s light, it’s fun, it’s silly – and three minutes of what we need right now. Tom shares via Facebook:
Friday night Mike went for a walk, I picked up the guitar and wrote a song. It was so fun to me that I immediately got on the phone and roped Ned Douglas into production, Mike Lovins into bass and Liz DeRoche into harmony arrangement. I told them everything had to be done immediately!
The next day I had an awesome song and then roped Michael Briggs into making a video with me. This project has made me smile so much, I hope it makes you smile as well.
Moral of the story… there are so many people around you that love you!!!!! Including me. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, love you lots!
Olly Alexander in ‘It’s A Sin’ The UK’s Channel 4 released the trailer for the upcoming new drama series It’s A Sin set in the 80s, from Queer as Folk writer Russell T Davies. The five-part series will star Years & Years singer Olly Alexander along with Stephen Fry, Neil Patrick Harris, Keeley Hawes, and Tracy Ann Oberman. It’s A Sin explores the AIDS crisis in the 1980s by following the story of three friends who move to London as the HIV/AIDS epidemic unfolds. From Channel 4:
Ritchie, Roscoe and Colin are young lads, strangers at first, leaving home at 18 and heading off to London in 1981 with hope and ambition and joy… and walking straight into a plague that most of the world ignores.
Year by year, episode by episode, their lives change, as the mystery of a new virus starts as a rumor, then a threat, then a terror, and then something that binds them together in the fight.
It’s the story of their friends, lovers and families too, especially Jill, the girl who loves them and helps them, and galvanizes them in the battles to come. Together they will endure the horror of the epidemic, the pain of rejection and the prejudices that gay men faced throughout the decade.
A little Throwback Thursday action here as Tony/Emmy/Grammy Award-winner Billy Porter (Kinky Boots, Pose) delivers a powerhouse performance of “O Holy Night” for the holiday CD,A Rosie Christmas.
This clip is from a TV special Rosie O’Donnell hosted December 5, 1999, at Broadway’s Longacre Theater which also included Trisha Yearwood, Celine Dion, ‘NSYNC and Gloria Estefan. Porter’s holiday season is certainly merry and bright as he’s currently shooting season 3 of his hit series Pose, and will be co-hosting Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest on December 31. Watch him wail below. Merry merry, folks.
Will Jardell and James Wallington on The Amazing Race (image via CBS) Not only did James Wallington and Will Jardell dominate this season of The Amazing Race, but the gay couple was first to cross the finish line and win the $1 million prize. Known as ‘the boyfriends’ in this season, the guys were able to beat brothers Riley and Maddison McKibbin, and married couple Hung Nguyen and Chee Lee to the winner’s platform located in the Superdome in New Orleans. And then…there might have been an emotional proposal.
In the clip, Will breaks down as he shares how his grandmother used to take him to Mardi Gras, James explains why he was surprised by Will’s marriage proposal, and they talk about wanting to adopt children. Hung and Chee arrived at the finish line second, with the McKibbin brothers coming in third. Congrats to James and Will!
The perfect recording for Christmas Eve. Years ago, when I was a struggling actor in NYC, my best friend Carlye discovered Mannheim Steamroller’s first holiday album, Christmas. Mannheim Steamroller’s founder, Chip Davis, had found the perfect formula of light, airy instrumental versions of favorite holiday songs. The first time Carlye played this for me, we were huddled up in our sweats about 10 pm on Christmas Eve. With only candles lit in our small one-bedroom apartment, and our version of “egg nog” – egg nog, amaretto, and a bit of vanilla bean ice cream – we sat quietly enjoying our inexpensive real Christmas tree as this played out in the shadows. The last-minute or so always leads me to imagine Santa and the elves working through the winter, getting ready for the big night. And as the toy piano and jingle bells play, the wind at the north pole whips up to send him out into the night. To this day, one of my favorite memories AND traditions, thanks to my BFF Carlye. Looking back at how little we thought we had, it’s amazing to know how much we really did. Happy Christmas everyone.
In full rotation in my house 
Through it all, he was surprised by one startling realization: how vital it is to be completely authentic in order to help others, as well as continue to heal himself. 
Who’s looking for a new podcast to follow? Check out co-hosts Bobby Griffith, Jim (just Jim), and The Miz (Anthony Villiotti) every Wednesday for their fun-filled gay podcast, 
