“Audiences can expect the same kind of eclectic offerings we’ve presented in the past. We’ll perform several popular standards and present our renditions of some traditional Christmas songs. We’ve put a bunch of medleys together, so one song flows into the next. Jeff Smith (of The River City Band) is such an amazing arranger that it feels contemporary and it doesn’t feel old-fashioned,” said singer Nancy James.
Fans will hear contemporary hits like Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree,” and Stevie Wonder’s “What Christmas Means To Me.” River City Band members Flor Byrd, and her husband, Billy, will perform a duet on “Run Run Rudolph.”
“We are looking forward to presenting new material that our audience hasn’t heard yet, and at the same time, we’ll be presenting some traditional songs we know they love,” James said.
As a versatile entertainer, James is known for her role on the Bob Braun Show for nearly a decade — singing, interviewing, and creating live commercials. She has a musical theater background, and is a graduate of University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music.
During a portion of the show, James will sing a few of of Ruth Lyons’ songs, and present a montage of all of the people from WLW who sang her music.
“We’ll remember some of the wonderful singers that sang the music that Ruth Lyons wrote, and that will be a fun treat for our audiences as well,” James said.
“I could not do a show without doing what I consider the theme song of the Ruth Lyons Children’s Christmas Fund and that is ‘Let’s Light The Christmas Tree,’” she said.
James has released two recent CDs, including Through the Years with Nancy James, which showcases of some of her best-loved work. The second project is a Christmas CD entitled Christmas Through the Years with Nancy James. Proceeds from the Christmas CD will go to the Ruth Lyons Children’s Fund.
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HOW TO GO
What: The Fitton Christmas Spectacular featuring Nancy James and The River City Band
Where: Fitton Family Theater, Fitton Center for Creative Arts, 101 S. Monument Avenue, Hamilton.
When: Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m.
Admission: $27 for members; $35 for non-members.
More info: www.fittoncenter.org or call (513) 863-8873, ext. 110. Also, visit www.nancyjamesmusic.com and www.rivercitycincinnati.com
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