In a board room, a meeting was taking place. The
White Angels had a meeting for their December show.
"Guys," said Frank, "I'm proud to announce that
Channel 44's expanding our next show to 90 minutes.
What I suggest is that we have a Christmas show. Play
our own arrangements of Christmas carols, each of us
gets a turn to sing & play by ourselves accompanied by
the band. As an added treat, we'll let the viewers
meet our families. All in favor?"
Everyone raised their hand, except Eric. When
the meeting was adjourned, Frank talked to Eric.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
"Everybody's got a family, except me." complained
Eric, "You even have an adopted son!"
"Bring your parents." suggested Frank, "I'm sure
they're proud of you."
That's what he thought. Truth is, Eric's parents
disowned him after appearing on a ROCK-TV beach
pageant wearing Guts Swim Briefs. Even though he won,
his parents took his $1,000 prize & trophy away &
grounded Eric. So Eric ran away to live with his
friend. After high school, Eric got a job as a model
for a department store. When he wasn't modeling, he
would be a street musician playing the drums @ the
park. Frank discovered him & the rest is history.
When Eric drove his sports car home, he saw a
beautiful babe in front of the apartments where he
lives. Eric got out of his car & got acquainted with
her.
"Hey Hottie Hunk! Remember me?" she asked.
"Tina?" he asked, "The Coolest Babe Winner?"
She nodded as she kissed Eric. Eric was in love.
"Don't you have a boyfriend?" he asked.
"The only person I was ever in love with is you,
Eric Hunter!" she said, "Seeing you in that swim wear
winning the beach pageant's cool! Playing The Beach
Dudes' drums for talent was awesome & different,
rather than shaking your body on tv. I never miss a
White Angels show on tv. Even though Joe Roman's a
guitar hunk, I go nuts when you play a drum solo or
tympani drum roll!"
Eric invited Tina up to his apartment. After
ordering pizza & dining on it, they were comfy on the
sofa together.
"Wanna watch a movie?" asked Eric.
"If it stars Eric Hunter!" she said.
Eric got up & placed a tape in the vcr. Then he
played it. The video consisted of White Angels
numbers featuring Eric playing a drum or tympani solo.
When Joe Roman sang a song, Tina asked if Eric can
sing. Eric turned off the vcr & started singing to
her. Then Tina pulled a man's ring out of her pocket
asking,
"Eric, will you marry me?"
"Oww! Yes!" exclaimed Eric as he went to Tina &
kissed long.
The day before the special came. As Frank &
Michael went into the Channel 44 studios, Mr. Bonner
came by & stopped them.
"Mr. Brandis," said Mr. Bonner, "For the past few
months, we've kept our progress on you two. It seems
Michael's very happy around you. Merry Christmas
Frank Brandis, you're a single daddy! Michael's
legally yours!"
"Daddy!" yelled Michael hugging his new dad.
"This is the best Christmas present I could ask
for. Thanks." exclaimed Frank.
Eric was rehearsing in the studio playing a
tympani solo to impress Tina with as she watched him.
Just then, he got a surprise visit from his parents.
Eric stopped playing & couldn't believe it.
"Mom? Dad? Who invited you?" asked Eric.
"Frank did." said Mrs. Hunter, "He told us you
needed a family for the Christmas show."
"I thought you disowned me."
"Son," explained Mr. Hunter, "We're sorry we over
reacted over that tv swimsuit contest. You do look
better wearing a white tuxedo on tv playing big band,
jazz & rock. Can't believe those drum lessons paid
off. I want you to have your trophy back. Please
look inside the cup."
Eric got his pageant trophy back & in the cup was
$2,000 (double the prize). Eric forgave his parents &
they all hugged. Then he introduced them to his
fiance, Tina.
The day came when Channel 44 taped The White
Angels Christmas Show for tonight's airing. The band
members had their families in the audience. The show
opened as Eric played a tympani drum roll. Then he
went to his drums, played with brushes as the band
played "Winter Wonderland". After the song, Frank
addressed the viewers.
"Welcome to this special 90 minute edition of The
White Angels. Tonight, we'll be doing Christmas
favorites for young & old. In this show, you'll meet
the band members & their families. All of us will get
to sing. Let's meet our 1st band member."
Each family segment had them in front of the big
Christmas tree (not a small Charlie Brown tree!).
"Hi, I'm Jason Herkimer, bass guitarist. This is
my wife Shari & my two daughters, Ruth & Gladys. May
your family be blessed this Christmas."
Jason played a funky bass guitar solo as the band
played funky as Jason played & rapped "Christmas In
Hollis". Eric wore shades & his cap backwards while
playing the drums, he even got a little solo in.
Jason got to be the rap artist he never became.
The 2nd band member;
"Hi, I'm Ralph Andretti, organist. This is my
wife Heather & son Ranny. Take the time to count your
blessings."
The band played as Ralph played "Christmastime Is
Near" on the organ. After playing it instrumentally,
he sang the song while playing the organ.
The next segment had Michael going to his daddy
sitting on a rocking chair.
"Daddy, please read me a Christmas story?"
"How about if I read for all the kids." he
suggested getting the book. As The White Angels'
children (ages 4-10) gathered around Frank, he had
Eric, Jason & Joe accompany him with background music.
Eric started playing the snare drum with brushes,
Jason joined playing a swing tempo on bass guitar &
Joe joined by chunking guitar chords as Frank read
"The Night Before Christmas" in swing time.
All the kids paid attention to Frank, except
Scott. He was watching his daddy play the guitar. So
he had a daydream.
Christmas Eve, 10 years later. Joe's relaxing on
the sofa as teenaged Scott Roman was about to leave
for a date.
"Scott, stay home & spend some quality time with
Dad."
"Aww man," groaned Scott, "I'm going out on a
date."
"I'll let you open a present early."
"More socks & Wonder Wear?" quipped Scott.
"Look in the closet." ordered Joe.
Scott opened the closet door & was excited to
find an amplifier & a guitar case. Scott opened the
case & saw a Washborn brown sunburst electric guitar
with a strap that said "SCOTT ROMAN".
"Cool gift, Dad!" exclaimed Scott as his dad had
the same guitar with a "JOE ROMAN" strap. Scott
plugged his amp & guitar, turned on the amp & tuned
his guitar.
"Dad, will you play the Night Before Christmas
riff you played 10 years ago?" asked Scott, "I know
you only chunked, please play it."
Joe remembered the song & played chunking chords.
Then Scott tapped his foot & joined in playing a
guitar solo he made up. Joe was proud of his talented
teenaged son. Three minutes later,
"Switch Dad!"
Scott chunked & Joe soloed. Then he woke up from
his daydream.
The 3rd band member;
"Hi, I'm Bart Smith, saxophonist. This is my
wife Lashandra & daughter Jean. Peace on Earth, good
will toward men & women."
The band backed up Bart as he played "Have
Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" on his tenor sax.
Then he sang the song.
The 4th band member;
"Hi, I'm Joe Roman, guitarist & lead singer.
This is my wife Lou & our twins, Liz & Scott. May all
your hopes be fulfilled."
Joe performed "Blue Christmas". First, he played
it slow & beautiful by himself on the electric guitar.
Then he tapped his foot & played it in jazz swing
time, accompanied by the band. The third time, he
sang as he played.
The White Angels performed next. They played an
intro as all 7 sang "White Christmas". After singing,
the band played instrumentally. Frank played a
trumpet solo, followed by Ben's vibes solo, Joe's
guitar solo & Ralph's organ solo. Then the band had
fun playing & singing "The 12 Days of Christmas" (I
just had to get my favorite Christmas carol in
somehow!).
The 5th band member;
"Hi, I'm Benjamin Sanders, vibes dude. This is
my wife, Velma. Have a safe holiday season, think
before you drink."
Ben wore shades as he played a cool rendition of
"Jingle Bell Rock" on the vibraphone, playing it
straight, then improvising as the band played with
him. Then he sang as he played chord progressions.
The 6th band member;
"Hi, I'm Eric Hunter, tympanist & drummer. With
my fiance Tina, this is my Mom & Dad. Keep the
Christmas spirit throughout the year."
The band played as Eric played the snare drum
with sticks while singing "Little Drummer Boy". When
he finished, Eric played a cool drum solo followed by
a tympani solo/fanfare/drum roll.
The 7th & final band member;
"I'm Frank Brandis, leader & trumpeter. I just
recently adopted a son, Michael. Hope you'll be
blessed with children."
The band accompanied Frank as he played "The
Christmas Song" on his trumpet. Then he sang the
song.
The next segment had Joe trying to play Bart's
sax, but played only sour notes.
"Some band members have hidden talent, mine's not
the sax." explained Joe, "At Club Philly, Bart gets to
show his hidden talent. As a Christmas gift from me,
& for the first time on Channel 44, he'll do it.
Here's Bart performing 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'."
Bart had his white Washborn electric guitar as he
played beautifully for the first time. Then he tapped
his foot & played it in jazz swing time with Joe
chunking chords. Joe let Bart play lead guitar
throughout the song & Bart let Joe play lead for one
verse. Then they sang the 1st verse together &
finished with a cool guitar lick they played together.
After the song, Joe & Bart high-fived each other
congratulating each other on a cool performance.
The last segment opened with Eric playing a
tympani fanfare (the only time Eric plays the tympani
alone on a song without playing the drums). Joe
joined in playing guitar doing "The Hallelujah
Chorus!". Man, I love a guitar/tympani duet, but I
got to let the rest of the band members in; DARN,
DARN, DARN! (Herman Munster gag!).
The other White Angels played the song with Frank
& Bart soloing together on their horns. The band did
a wonderful job on the song as the show was over.
30 minutes later, Channel 44 threw an untelevised
Christmas party for the band & their families. Along
with the Christmas gifts they brought over, Channel 44
got each person a gift & didn't go over budget (that's
21 gifts). Merry Christmas!
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