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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