Oh, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Everywhere you go. Take a look at the five and ten. Glistening once again with candy canes and silver lanes aglow. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas toys in every store. But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be on your own front door. A pair of hopalong boots in the vessel that uses the wish of Bonnie and Ben. Tarzan will talk and we'll go for a walk. As the hopeful Janice and.

Oh, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Everywhere you go. Take a look at the five and ten. Glistening once again with candy canes and silver lanes aglow. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas toys in every store. But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be on your own front door. A pair of hopalong boots in the vessel that uses the wish of Bonnie and Ben. Tarzan will talk and we'll go for a walk. As the hopeful Janice and.

Jen and Mom and dad can hardly wait.

Jen and Mom and dad can hardly wait.

There's a tree in the old hotel. One in the park as well. The sturdy kind that doesn't.

There's a tree in the old hotel. One in the park as well. The sturdy kind that doesn't.

Mind the snow. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. In the bowels will start. And the thing that'll make them break is the carol that you sing right within your heart.

Mind the snow. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. In the bowels will start. And the thing that'll make them break is the carol that you sing right within your heart.

We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Good tidings we bring to you and. We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas and a.

Good tidings we bring to you and. We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas and a.

Happy New Year.

Happy New Year.

Good tidings. We wish. You a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Good tidings. We wish. You a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Well, I'm pretty sure you recognize those Christmas songs and carols. Um, I'm also pretty sure you recognize the voice of the singer. It's Dennis. Walter, you couldn't really have Carols by Candlelight without Dennis being part of the lineup, and he's right here on the line to talk to us about this year's appearance at Carols by Candlelight. Welcome to the show, Dennis.

Well, I'm pretty sure you recognize those Christmas songs and carols. Um, I'm also pretty sure you recognize the voice of the singer. It's Dennis. Walter, you couldn't really have Carols by Candlelight without Dennis being part of the lineup, and he's right here on the line to talk to us about this year's appearance at Carols by Candlelight. Welcome to the show, Dennis.

Thank you very much, Chris. Really looking forward to the next few hours.

Thank you very much, Chris. Really looking forward to the next few hours.

I'll bet you are. Um, so do you. How many times have you been on stage at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl for Carols by Candlelight?

I'll bet you are. Um, so do you. How many times have you been on stage at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl for Carols by Candlelight?

Well, we can't really put a figure on it, because I did. I did a lot of Carols by Candlelight for Channel Zero in the Old town time. Yes. And then I also did a lot after it had shifted to Channel nine. I was on at least every second year. So that's the that's the grey area of how many I did for channel Zero and channel nine before I joined channel nine, because since 1989 I've been on every year except one. So it's it's over 40, but we don't know whether it's 41, 42, 45 or 46. I don't know, it's it's hard to say.

Well, we can't really put a figure on it, because I did. I did a lot of Carols by Candlelight for Channel Zero in the Old town time. Yes. And then I also did a lot after it had shifted to Channel nine. I was on at least every second year. So that's the that's the grey area of how many I did for channel Zero and channel nine before I joined channel nine, because since 1989 I've been on every year except one. So it's it's over 40, but we don't know whether it's 41, 42, 45 or 46. I don't know, it's it's hard to say.

Have you sung a different song every time?

Have you sung a different song every time?

No. I've been a repeat offender on many occasions.

No. I've been a repeat offender on many occasions.

Uh, can you remember which one that you've sung them most?

Uh, can you remember which one that you've sung them most?

Oh, yes. Probably song of Joy. But I haven't done that for over a decade.

Oh, yes. Probably song of Joy. But I haven't done that for over a decade.

Ah, and I can't.

Ah, and I can't.

Tell you what I am singing.

Tell you what I am singing.

No, but you know. Is that a clue? No. We go. No. Okay. All right. So process of elimination. We know you're not singing a song of joy. Um, having done it so many times. Is there still excitement in it? Do you still have a little kind of flutter of butterflies just before you go on stage about it?

No, but you know. Is that a clue? No. We go. No. Okay. All right. So process of elimination. We know you're not singing a song of joy. Um, having done it so many times. Is there still excitement in it? Do you still have a little kind of flutter of butterflies just before you go on stage about it?

There's definite excitement. And the excitement starts at the music rehearsal, which is, you know, two nights out from from the main event, and then you're at the bowl again for the dress rehearsal, um, last night. And then there's this build up and the, the rehearsal, the dress rehearsal has, has as many people in the audience as the actual night. So the excitement is sort of over three, three nights building to the, to the actual production.

There's definite excitement. And the excitement starts at the music rehearsal, which is, you know, two nights out from from the main event, and then you're at the bowl again for the dress rehearsal, um, last night. And then there's this build up and the, the rehearsal, the dress rehearsal has, has as many people in the audience as the actual night. So the excitement is sort of over three, three nights building to the, to the actual production.

How does being such a regular on Carols by Candlelight factor into your own Christmas celebrations? You must work around it pretty much every year pretty well.

How does being such a regular on Carols by Candlelight factor into your own Christmas celebrations? You must work around it pretty much every year pretty well.

Um, uh, living in Geelong, we don't get home until probably, uh, 1 or 1 30 or 2:00. It depends. Depends whether we kick on a little bit afterwards backstage. But, um, it's look, it's it's an honour to be on it, and, and I, I get the same feelings now as I got in the, in the early days.

Um, uh, living in Geelong, we don't get home until probably, uh, 1 or 1 30 or 2:00. It depends. Depends whether we kick on a little bit afterwards backstage. But, um, it's look, it's it's an honour to be on it, and, and I, I get the same feelings now as I got in the, in the early days.

Yeah. Are you just mentioned, uh, backstage, um, on the show last year, we actually did a little, um, a little tour backstage with the Carols by Candlelight production manager, which was pretty exciting. Um, is it festive backstage? Is it is it really kind of energetic and lively, or are people really concentrating and doing their warm ups?

Yeah. Are you just mentioned, uh, backstage, um, on the show last year, we actually did a little, um, a little tour backstage with the Carols by Candlelight production manager, which was pretty exciting. Um, is it festive backstage? Is it is it really kind of energetic and lively, or are people really concentrating and doing their warm ups?

No, no, some people sort of stay in their dressing rooms, but others, the majority are up and about, um, uh, in sort of a green room area that we have where everyone sort of chats and we have a lot of the theatre show casts on. So they all know each other, and some of them are in other shows and they've catch up on Christmas Eve. So it's it's really it's festive. It's genuinely festive.

No, no, some people sort of stay in their dressing rooms, but others, the majority are up and about, um, uh, in sort of a green room area that we have where everyone sort of chats and we have a lot of the theatre show casts on. So they all know each other, and some of them are in other shows and they've catch up on Christmas Eve. So it's it's really it's festive. It's genuinely festive.

I guess for some people that must be a kind of almost regular catch up that people see each other at this event. Um, maybe the only time they see each other in the year?

I guess for some people that must be a kind of almost regular catch up that people see each other at this event. Um, maybe the only time they see each other in the year?

Yes. Uh, often, uh, I'll see Marina Prior or maybe Sylvie at different shows during the year. This year. I've spoken to both of them on on three, but I haven't, um, haven't caught up with them. So, uh, the music rehearsal night was the first time that we've caught up this year. Other than talking on air.

Yes. Uh, often, uh, I'll see Marina Prior or maybe Sylvie at different shows during the year. This year. I've spoken to both of them on on three, but I haven't, um, haven't caught up with them. So, uh, the music rehearsal night was the first time that we've caught up this year. Other than talking on air.

Fantastic. Uh, did you ever go to Carols by Candlelight as a punter?

Fantastic. Uh, did you ever go to Carols by Candlelight as a punter?

No. Uh, I went to ones, uh, in Geelong, but, um, pretty well. Not. No, I reckon I only ever went to one before my career took off, which I was, you know, 15. So. Wow. That's a long time ago, Chris.

No. Uh, I went to ones, uh, in Geelong, but, um, pretty well. Not. No, I reckon I only ever went to one before my career took off, which I was, you know, 15. So. Wow. That's a long time ago, Chris.

Yeah, but, you know, it's continued at a pace, uh, hasn't it.

Yeah, but, you know, it's continued at a pace, uh, hasn't it.

It's 52 years. So coming into my 53rd year of, uh, being involved in, in. Entertainment media.

It's 52 years. So coming into my 53rd year of, uh, being involved in, in. Entertainment media.

Wow. That's that's fantastic. Um, I note that when we listen to a little medley of Christmas songs from your Magic of Christmas album, it's not the only not the only Christmas album you've put out. Um, are they fun to do? Are they are they kind of an opportunity for you to go, I love this Christmas song or this makes me feel that way, or I remember this from my childhood. Are they that kind of process for you when you're putting a Christmas album together.

Wow. That's that's fantastic. Um, I note that when we listen to a little medley of Christmas songs from your Magic of Christmas album, it's not the only not the only Christmas album you've put out. Um, are they fun to do? Are they are they kind of an opportunity for you to go, I love this Christmas song or this makes me feel that way, or I remember this from my childhood. Are they that kind of process for you when you're putting a Christmas album together.

Particularly that album The Magic of Christmas? Chris Elves is an English musical director, and he just created that sort of feeling of. Some of those arrangements were so nostalgic and you could almost imagine wandering in snow in London. Uh, at Christmas time. It he's really caught that, um, that old world sort of Christmas feel.

Particularly that album The Magic of Christmas? Chris Elves is an English musical director, and he just created that sort of feeling of. Some of those arrangements were so nostalgic and you could almost imagine wandering in snow in London. Uh, at Christmas time. It he's really caught that, um, that old world sort of Christmas feel.

I think the last Christmas recording you might have done was 2020. Is that right? That's a single recording.

I think the last Christmas recording you might have done was 2020. Is that right? That's a single recording.

Oh, yeah. That was with I did a duet with, uh, Marussia who toured with Andre every year, uh, of We Need a Little Christmas and we took we took a song that's always been done like a, um, papa type song and made it into a ballad, and it worked a treat.

Oh, yeah. That was with I did a duet with, uh, Marussia who toured with Andre every year, uh, of We Need a Little Christmas and we took we took a song that's always been done like a, um, papa type song and made it into a ballad, and it worked a treat.

Well, it's funny, I was listening to it, um, uh, yesterday, and it really struck me. I think I was kind of, you know, a good, um, 30s or so into the song before I went. I, I do know this song because I thought I knew the title. And then it started and I went, oh, I'm not sure I know it, but I'm always fascinated when you hear a song that, as you say, exists in a sort of, um, papa style, and you suddenly hear a kind of beauty in the song that you haven't really kind of come across before. Was that something that was that came from you or from another arranger?

Well, it's funny, I was listening to it, um, uh, yesterday, and it really struck me. I think I was kind of, you know, a good, um, 30s or so into the song before I went. I, I do know this song because I thought I knew the title. And then it started and I went, oh, I'm not sure I know it, but I'm always fascinated when you hear a song that, as you say, exists in a sort of, um, papa style, and you suddenly hear a kind of beauty in the song that you haven't really kind of come across before. Was that something that was that came from you or from another arranger?

Uh, that was from Michael Christiano, who's these days involved with the original seekers? The boys. That's what they started before Judith joined. Yeah, but Mike, Michael's produced albums from Arusha and for myself. And this year he did the the re the rebirth of Russell Morris, all his hits. But with the Melbourne Symphony he did the actual recording and the mixing of all that. He's very talented.

Uh, that was from Michael Christiano, who's these days involved with the original seekers? The boys. That's what they started before Judith joined. Yeah, but Mike, Michael's produced albums from Arusha and for myself. And this year he did the the re the rebirth of Russell Morris, all his hits. But with the Melbourne Symphony he did the actual recording and the mixing of all that. He's very talented.

Oh, fantastic. Well, uh, I shouldn't hold you up too long because, you know, you've got a show to do. Dennis. Um. I hope it's a great night.

Oh, fantastic. Well, uh, I shouldn't hold you up too long because, you know, you've got a show to do. Dennis. Um. I hope it's a great night.

Um, I'll go and do warm ups.

Um, I'll go and do warm ups.

Yeah.

Yeah.

He should have done warm ups in my life, but I will tonight.

He should have done warm ups in my life, but I will tonight.

Uh, a little.

Uh, a little.

Bit of red leather. Yellow leather to get you going.

Bit of red leather. Yellow leather to get you going.

Yes.

Yes.

Um, thanks so much for taking the time out, Dennis. Been lovely to talk to you. And took us, uh, for whatever you reveal your singing tonight.

Um, thanks so much for taking the time out, Dennis. Been lovely to talk to you. And took us, uh, for whatever you reveal your singing tonight.

Yes. I just hope I remember the lyrics.

Yes. I just hope I remember the lyrics.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Good on you. Thanks, Dennis. Walter.

Good on you. Thanks, Dennis. Walter.

Take care.

Take care.