Devon Gilfillian Pays Tribute To Nat King Cole With New Version of 'The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)'
Capitol Records recording artist Devon Gilfillian celebrates the season and one of the label’s most illustrious artists with a soulful rendition of “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You).†The beloved carol, written by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé, was originally recorded by the Nat King Cole Trio in 1945. Capitol Records’ historic Hollywood Tower is often referred to as “The House That Nat Built†due to the remarkable string of hits that Cole recorded for the label. “The Christmas Song†is bundled with Gilfillian’s 2018 Christmas single, “Winter Wonderland.â€
Gilfillian’s debut album, Black Hole Rainbow, is nominated for a GRAMMY Award in the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical category. Shawn Everett and Ivan Wayman served as engineers and Bob Ludwig as mastering engineer. Earlier this week, Gilfillian received the Leon Brettler Award at The ASCAP Foundation Honors 2020 recipient. He performed his top five AAA radio hit “The Good Life†- a track from Black Hole Rainbow - at the virtual festivities. He also performed the song during his recent appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.â€
The New York Times hailed Black Hole Rainbow as a “formidable debut album†and The Tennessean declared it “one of the best albums released this year, period.†It also won a spot on Iowa Public Radio’s list of “The Best New Albums (So Far) Of 2020.†Praising the “impressive†album as an indication of the continued influence of Prince, Paste Magazine said, “Prince would have been pleased to know that he still had followers out here in 2020…putting out records that defy musical segregation and mechanization, records as tuneful as they are funky, records that prove that the American ideal of “E pluribus unum,†(out of many, one) is still being worked out on the dance floor.â€
In October, Gilfillian released his interpretation of Marvin Gaye’s landmark 1971 album, What’s Going On. Guests on the album include Emmy and GRAMMY-winning artist Jasmine Cephas Jones and GRAMMY nominee Ruby Amanfu. The project was born from Gilfillian’s mission to bring people together and further the conversation on racial injustice. It’s a natural follow-up to the message established in “The Good Life†and his recently launched The Good Life Fund, which supports organizations that are doing good in the world.
Gilfillian performed “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)†during his #PlayAtHome Performance for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.†View HERE. He played the album in its entirety during a livestream concert that benefited The Equity Alliance. Nashville Scene noted, “Gilfillian & Co.’s 90-minute set served as a reminder of how great art can simultaneously address the moment in which it was created and have an impact that lasts long after that time passes.â€
