For Christmas, I would like to give you the gift of music. The Merriest was recorded by June Christy in 1961 on her holiday album. The song fits in beautifully, however, with the big band era of the 1940's, as June Christy was one of the most popular big band singers of the era. She was chosen as the best female big band vocalist four times in the Down Beat annual poll between 1946 and 1950. Ava sings June’s song in chapter 41 of Songbird. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Willie Harold gave her a confident wink, and she began her song.

“I’d like to fix this bag of tricks and send them out with a fleeting greeting. Smiles for the frowners, salutes to the uppers, boos to the downers,” she sang.

It was a cold night, and she was clad in her grandmother’s red velvet jacket, but it wouldn’t have mattered. She could have sung through a blizzard.

Songbird, Chapter 41