Ed Chandler and Kay Baker of KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune have teamed up with several Highland Lakes entertainers for 'Ed & Kay Present a KBEY & Friends Christmas.' The CD benefits local charities.
MARBLE FALLS — Highland Lakes musicians have teamed up with Ed Chandler and Kay Baker of KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune’s “Wake Up Call” to help ensure area children have their best Christmas.
Six artists performed original pieces for the “Ed & Kay Present a KBEY & Friends Christmas” CD.
The CD is $10 and can be purchased during the The Picayune/KBEY 103.9 FM Toy Drive, which is 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6. In Marble Falls, donors can bring toys or cash donations to the Chevrolet-Buick dealership at 2301 U.S. 281 North, while Burnet donors should go to the Burnet Fire Station, 2002 U.S. 281 South.
Proceeds benefit Highland Lakes Christmas is for Kids, Burnet County Santa’s Helpers, and Granite Shoals Christmas Outreach.
“Buy your limited edition today,” Chandler said, “until they run out. Then, we’ll order some more.”
Chandler said he got the idea for the CD from when he worked at KILT 100.3 FM in Houston. Fred Olson and Randy Hames, better known to listeners as Hudson and Harrigan, created a comedy Christmas CD to benefit nonprofits.
Chandler began researching how to do something similar for Highland Lakes nonprofits but found out how costly it would be because of royalties that needed to be paid to writers, songwriters, and other performers. That’s when station brass decided to create an album of familiar Christmas carols. Chandler reached out to Hill Country artists such as Kattl, which won the Battle of the Bands competition at Fiesta JAM in 2016, and singer-songwriters John Arthur Martinez, Mike Blakely, Andrew Hamm, and Alex Harvey, who wrote the Tanya Tucker hit “Delta Dawn.”
“We asked some local artists if they’d be willing to get involved,” Chandler said. “They made original songs for the CD and are donating all the proceeds.”
Harvey sings his original song “Lone Star Christmas,” while Martinez performs “What a Christmas It Was.” Hamm sings “Christmas Nativity,” Kattl performs “Texas Christmas, The Kattl Way,” and Blakely sings “North Pole Company Dance.”
Chandler sings “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” while Baker performs “O Holy Night.” The two sing “Silent Night” together.
The CD also includes Baker’s comedy bit “Ethel’s Rum Cake Recipe.”
In addition to purchasing copies at the toy drive, you can go to KBEYFM.com to buy one — or several (they would make great stocking stuffers).
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