The Dr. Eric Littleton Christmas Concert Has Become A Tradition At The Princess

Dr. Eric Littleton's annual "A Celebration of Christmas Music" concert has become a tradition; one that sets the tone for everyone's Christmas!  

Each year around the Thanksgiving season everyone starts posting on the "Friends Of The Princess Theatre" Facebook page, "When is the Christmas concert?", or "Is Dr. Littleton playing again this year?"

Well, the answer is always yes!  Dr. Littleton, probably, as much or more than anyone, looks forward to the intimate piano performance at the Princess Theatre in Downtown Harriman, TN.

There was great anticipation and much popcorn crunching prior to Friday night's concert.

As usual, Chris and Addie Mason introduced the show and soon we were deluged with the wonderful songs of Christmas.  

Even Santa, who sat off stage to avoid stealing the show, tapped his foot to the beats and joyful sounds of singing!

This year the Midway High School drama/choir, directed by Courtney Minton, opened the show and set the theme for the evening.  Not only their talented, but subtle humor quickly won the hearts of audience.

The star of the show is always Dr. Littleton's piano and his honed talent on its keys.  You may come every year, but you never get the same rendition.  He works throughout the year changing his arrangements, so as to make it new and interesting for his audience.

It's hard to pick a favorite Christmas song, and sometimes two or three are found within the same arrangement.  As he tells between pieces, he often gets inspiration from other "non-Christmas" songs he hears during the year.  In the music part of his brain, he can marry an Adele song, like her James Bond theme, to a Christmas carol!  And, when you hear it all come together, you rejoice at the creativity that flows from that mind!

A special moment came when Sophie, joined her father, Muse Watson, and long time family friend Mike Ross, on stage.  I never knew Sophie could play the piano until that moment, but coming from a talented mom and pop, I should have known!  You could tell her dad was bursting with pride.

muse and sophie watson from Douglas Mills on Vimeo. This moment was emotional for me too, but when Muse sang "Mary Did You Know", tears came to my eyes.  It was a very special moment in the show.

Offering Dr. Littleton another break, was his nephew Andrew Littleton, of Huntsville, AL; proving that talent runs deep in the Littleton family.

Missing from this year's lineup was Caleb, Littleton's son, who is off making a name for himself in percussion as part of the band at MTSU.  We wish him well!

Okay, so I'll get to what you are waiting for, the photos from the Christmas Concert.  We had a great time, and hope you have a Merry Christmas, and plan to join us at the Princess next Christmas!

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The Grand Prees' "Last Dance" Became "The Big Dance"!

Fifty years of enjoying great music together came to an end last night as the "Grand Prees" took the stage at the Princess Theatre one last time.  The tight friends and tight music band began way back in 1965, and because life has taken them in different directions, the hometown group decided it was time to end it in a "Last Dance" concert for the fans that have enjoyed them for all this time.

Back Row: Parker O'Shell, Jim Barnes, Paul Hicks, Perry Hawn, and Jimbo Duncan
Front Row: Terry Barnes, Ray Pope, Robert Crabtree, Zach Williamson, and Jack Funari

A crowd of fans of over 400 packed into the Princess, spilling over into the balcony, to hear "their kind of music"; the kind only the "Grand Prees" can play!  They were welcomed and surprised by the old original "Beacon Drive In" sign blinking away to the left of the stage.  So many memories rushed forth and they could hardly wait until Chris Mason introduced Harriman's own "Grand Prees"!

However, long before the adoring fans arrived, the band gathered for next to the last time on stage to do their "sound check".  It wasn't until the last time, and deep into the second page of the lineup, that the band seemed to relax and be well with the fact this was the "last dance".

The brass section seemed to spread that feeling as they sat down and clapped to the music.  Their faces were all smiles as they seemed to realize that they had accomplished something few bands, or people, get to do; stay together for fifty years and remain friends.  

Every hometown has a local band, and some, like our community has had several over the years, but the Grand Prees seem to hold a special place in everyone's "Mayberry dreams"; at least to us "60's kind of people"!

Taking the stage, along with the Beacon sign flashing, the band brought great anticipation, and harkened me and the audience back to that special time in all our lives.  We were young, we were in love, and we wished it would have all remained frozen in time. 

For a time Saturday, time did stand still as the Grand Prees played those songs that made us nostalgic for the "good ol' days":  Black Magic Woman, Good Ol' Rock & Roll, Best of My Love, Mustang Sally, Let It Be Me, Fire On The Mountain, My Girl, and many, many more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slowly, the courage came back and couples made their way down front to dance; after all, that's what the night was all about.  Hopefully, we'll all have many more years of dancing, but we will most likely have to do it without the help of the Grand Prees.

 

Even the grand kids got into the act, on stage with granddads, and hopefully they will one day carry on the band tradition, and come back to the Princess to again entertain us.

Who said "Mike Franks" don't like rock'n roll?

Hi Betty Ann and Neena...love you ladies!

It was also a great night to comb the audience for familiar faces and to rekindle old friendships.  I saw many of mine as well, and couldn't resist embarrassing them by posting their photos here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So the band played on without ever leaving the stage; about two and half hours, I suspect, and the crowd wanted more.  Not only are these guys great musicians, they are "good people" too.  They seemed to be surprised at the reception they got and the applause they received, so just maybe, we will entice them back...just one more dance!

The Princess sure did look pretty Saturday.  I took this during "sound check" and loved the way the colors turned out.  Once in a while I hit it just right!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So then, the Grand Prees put on their lucky t-shirts and hit the stage with two hours of "sock hopping" music!  As I said earlier, they hit their comfort zone mid-way through the set and laid into the ol' familiar tunes.  I kept thinking and hoping that with the success they were having that they would begin to rethink their intent of leaving the stage forever.  There was a small hint that Terry Barnes let slip, "You will not see the Grand Prees in this form again."  Could that mean that at least some of them will return to the stage soon?

 

 

So long Jim and Terry, we thank you for taking a chance back in '65...it paid off for all of us.  You got to be the "rock stars" you dreamed of being, and we got thoroughly entertained!  It was truly a "win-win", and we wish you the very best in your retirement!

 

 

Before I totally forget it, let me mention Keith Howell; what a grand gesture he made.  He bought and donated this fine bass guitar to the Princess Foundation.  The bass, which includes all the Grand Prees signatures, will be hung in honor of the band at the Princess.  Next time you see him...thank him for all of us!

So, once again, on behalf of everyone there Saturday night, thank you Grand Prees for the memories!