Mark Demmin II, The Vintage Voice of Chicagoland, Performs 'Moonlight In Vermont'!

In lieu of my preferred Theater Pipe Organ accompaniment, a Hammond B3 and Leslie speaker in the arrangement mix will have to suffice for now! This arrangement borrows greatly from Willy Nelson's rendering in 1978.

Published in 1944, "Moonlight in Vermont" is a descriptive popular song about the romantic seasonal changes found in the state of Vermont as written by lyricist John Blackburn and set to music composed by Karl Suessdorf. It was introduced by Margaret Whiting that same year.

Unusual for an American songbook standard is that the lyrics do not rhyme. John Blackburn, the lyricist, has been quoted as saying, "After completing the first 12 bars of the lyric, I realized there was no rhyme and then said to Karl, 'Let’s follow the pattern of no rhyme throughout the song. It just seemed right.'" The song is considered an unofficial state song of Vermont and has been traditionally been played as the first dance song at Vermont wedding receptions.

Besides Margaret Whiting, "Moonlight in Vermont" has been covered by numerous other artists over the years:
- Johnny Smith recorded a version of the
song with Stan Getz in 1952.
- The Gerry Mulligan Quartet recorded a
version with Chet Baker in 1953.
- Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong on
their 1956 album, Ella and Louis.
- Billie Holiday covered the song in 1957.
- Sam Cooke on his 1958 debut album.
- Sarah Vaughan in 1958 on 'No Count
Sarah'!
- The Ahmad Jamaal Trio on 'Live at the
Pershing Lounge' in 1958.
- Frank Sinatra loved the song and initially
covered it on his 1958 studio album 'Come
Fly With Me', also performing it regularly
live.
- Brook Benton on his 1960 album 'Songs I
Love to Sing'.
- Bobby Womack on his 1969 album 'Fly Me
To The Moon'.
- Willie Nelson on his 1978 album 'Stardust'
and also
- Seth MacFarlane on his 2014 Christmas
Album 'Holiday For Swing'!

Frank Sinatra further covered it further as it appears on his live albums 'Sinatra Saga', 'Sinatra & Sextet: Live in Paris', 'Frank Sinatra with the Red Norvo Quintet: Live in Australia, 1959', 'Sinatra: Vegas' and 'Live at the Meadowlands'. And it appears as a duet with Linda Ronstadt on his 1994 album 'Duets II'.

Recording, over layered voices and post production editing performed on the Spire Studio Unit by Izotope.

[stevelee]

AWESOME! You and Willy should duet! But you do it wonderfully by your self brother!!