Over the next two and a half weeks, we will be inundated with Christmas specials on television and Christmas music on the radio.

Most major radio markets have at least one station that will change its format to all Christmas music. They used to wait until after Thanksgiving but many have moved the date up earlier in November. When I first heard about it, I figured it was a publicity stunt or just a way pipe in a national feed and save some money.

But stations quickly figured out that people like to hear Christmas songs, especially older ones that hold special memories for them. Advertisers also picked up on the fact. If the listeners want to hear carols, then they had to advertise on those stations in order to reach potential Christmas shoppers.

Over the years, musicians in nearly every genre of music have tried their hand at Christmas songs. It seemed like a band hadn’t really made it big unless they had a Christmas song that received a lot of airplay this time of year. And while it might seem like something new for rock musicians to do, it’s not. Chuck Berry had a pair of holiday hits in the late 1950s. (Ironically, Berry’s only No. 1 hit was a novelty song.)

Personally, I have always liked a wide variety of music. That translates into Christmas music. I like the traditional carols and religious-themed songs. I stop in my tracks whenever I hear “O Holy Night.” I am still haunted by an incredible version of “Silent Night” as it was performed by a high school madrigal group. I even have a version of the song being sung in the original German, “Stille Nacht.” A few years ago, I stumbled upon what I consider to be the hippest Christmas song ever, “White Christmas” by The Drifters.

Kathy and I like the Trans Siberian Orchestra and even went to a pair of concerts of their rock opera in Memphis.

But for me and my sister, Christmas is just not Christmas without a certain singer.

Growing up, our tradition included slapping a stack of vinyl on the record player, whether decorating the tree or opening presents on Christmas Eve. My father listened to country music, so there were plenty of country Christmas albums. But the one that has always stuck out from the rest is Dean Martin. How did a Rat Packer get thrown in with the Statler Brothers? Maybe it was because he was that good. Sinatra was a little dry for me. Sammy tried a little too hard to be hip and with it. Dino just exuded charm and it came through.

A couple of years ago, I downloaded the digital version of Dino’s Christmas album and made sure my sister had a copy. My nephew was less than thrilled with the prospect of having to listen to Christmas music on the way home. But he later admitted Dean Martin was pretty cool.

With temperatures in the mid 70s this week, it’s been kind of hard to get into the holiday spirit. But the funny thing is, most Christmas albums are recorded in the middle of summer. And the original opening lines of “White Christmas” complain about it being warm and sunny in Los Angeles.

“The Christmas Song” (think chestnuts roasting on an open fire) was written on a blazing hot summer day in 1944. Singer-songwriter Mel Torme (a.k.a. The Velvet Fog) and Bob Wells were trying to think of winter related things in an effort to be cool by thinking cool.

William Moore is the Senior Editor at Gulf Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at wmoore@gulfcoastnewspapers.com