“Christmas in Kenmore Square” is a Boston Holiday Classic
“Christmas in Kenmore Square” is one of those forgotten local holiday classics that I feel like not enough people know. Let’s fix that.
This one’s a slice of Boston radio history, courtesy of the late, great WBCN. Yes, I worked there. Yes, you probably listened to me while I worked there. Thanks for that, by the way. And thanks for finding me and listening to me here at ROCK 92.9. Now, my time at BCN was 2003 through the bitter end in 2009; I wasn’t there during the station’s heyday. But I know a bit about those times, so I can share.
WBCN was The Rock of Boston and owned the airwaves in the 1980’s. A big part of that was The Big Mattress, the station’s morning show, which was anchored by Charles Laquidara and featured a revolving and talented crew of broadcasters and characters. One of those characters was local musician Billy West, a kid from Rossie who would do comedy routines for Charles in the morning.
“Christmas in Kenmore Square” is a Boston Holiday Classic
And yes, it’s that Billy West. The Ren & Stimpy Show Billy West. The Howard Stern Show Billy West. The man responsible for hundreds of voices and characters you know and love. In short, one of the greatest voice actors of our time. Back in the ’80s, he was doing bits on BCN. One of those bits was a Boston-centric holiday collaboration with production legend Tom Sandman.
As Billy writes on his YouTube page: “Christmas in Kenmore Square features 6 or 8 tracks of vocals by Billy & Tom in true Beach Boys style. Billy on acoustic guitar and an unknown player on some small drums with brushes. I always had ratty copies of this magnificent recorded. I was contacted by Tom about 9 years ago and he sent me a copy direct from his own master which I was thrilled to get!”
Those of us in the know have been enjoying this one for years. Now, you can, too. Happy Holidays. And Rest in Power, Mr. Butch.