The Ten Best Christmas Crooners of All Time

It's the time of the year when Christmas music has taken over our radios. From the elevators, to the malls,and every place in between. We can't avoid it, and some of it is very good. Here I rank the best ten Christmas crooners of yesterday and today.

10. Elvis Presley - Elvis' Christmas Album is the top selling holiday release of all time according to the RIAA. It may have been recorded back in the mid 1950's but it has been reissued many times. How could you not appreciate "Blue Christmas", "Silent Night" and a blues themed rock and roll version of "Santa Claus Is Back In Town". Elvis' Christmas music may have been some of his best work, and it will stand the test of time. Elvis loved Christmas and his music is his lasting gift to us.

9. The Muppet's - John Denver joined The Muppet's for a Christmas album that was later made into a TV special. A Christmas Together was certified as Platinum by the RIAA in 1980. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and "Deck The Halls" still get a lot of play. The album wraps up with a quick version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", sung by the entire Muppet cast.

8. Chuck Berry - Not many people think of Chuck Berry as a Christmas artist, but his songs "Run Rudolph Run" and "Merry Christmas Baby" are classics. Berry is one of the pioneers of rock and roll and was voted one of the top guitarists of all time. "Run Rudolph Run" was first released in 1958 and has been a staple in movies and has been covered by numerous other artists.

7. Gene Autry - Gene Autry became a Christmas icon when he recorded "Here Comes Santa Claus" in 1947. The Christmas Cowboy reached another level of greatness when he recorded "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer". In fact "Rudolph" was Autry's all time best seller. Autry was a fixture in Christmas Parades and in Christmas specials. His charm and fondness for song came through in his Christmas recordings. They are two of my favorites.

6. Josh Groban - Josh Groban's Noel is one of the most successful current Christmas albums. It has gone quintuple platinum since its release in 2007. Noel reached #1 in the U.S., Canada, and other countries. Groban covers some Christmas favorites like "Silent Night", "What Child is This", and "The First Noel' with country star Faith Hill. His rendition of "Ave Maria" is stunning. The California native lists David Foster as his mentor, and his constant giving and performing for charity has made him one of the most popular vocalists today.

5. Jose Feliciano - Jose Feliciano is a Puerto Rican-American singer whose Christmas hit "Feliz Navidad" is one of the most popular Christmas tunes ever. Feliciano was born blind, but started playing musical instruments as a young child. His Christmas album was released in 1970, and "Feliz Navidad" and other original recordings were wildly received in American and Spanish speaking countries. "Feliz Navidad" is one of my favorites,and makes me wish Feliciano would've recorded more holiday music.

4. Burl Ives - People don't remember Burl Ives as an Academy Award winning actor, but that's ok. We know Burl for "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas", "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Winter Wonderland", and many other Christmas favorites. Ives recorded four Christmas albums before his death in 1995. He voices characters on kid's Christmas specials on both television and the radio. Ives mentored many up and coming vocalists who looked to record holiday music. Frank Black of the group The Pixies and the group Killdozer call Ives an influence on their music.

3. Andy Williams - No picture of Christmas is complete without seeing Andy Williams in his red sweater. Williams continues to perform his Christmas show in Branson, MO and around the country even though he is into his 80's. His "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year' is a holiday staple. Williams performed numerous times in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, and his Christmas specials were some of the most watched shows of the year. Williams started his historic career performing with his brothers. He left them to go solo after being discovered by Bing Crosby.

2. Bing Crosby - Speaking of Bing Crosby, his career may have covered over fifty years, but his legacy will go on forever. In between acting, his business interests, and being a part-owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team, Bing found time to record beautiful Christmas music. His recording of "White Christmas", written by Irving Berlin has sold an unbelievable 100 million copies worldwide, and is the best selling single of all time. His 1945 album Merry Christmas included "I'll Be Home for Christmas". and tracks of "Jingle Bells" and "Mele Kalikimaka" sung with The Andrews Sisters. All this could only get Mr. Crosby to #2 on my list.

1. Frank Sinatra - Frank Sinatra has done it all, including recording some of the greatest Christmas tunes ever recorded. His "Christmas Waltz" is legendary, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" should be played at every Christmas party, and "Mistletoe and Holly" makes you feel like you are in front of a warm fire on a cold December Night. He also recorded Christmas duets with the likes of Bing Crosby, Cyndi Lauper, and his kids Frank Jr. and Nancy. Perhaps no one was more prolific than "Old Blue Eyes" when it came to recording holiday masterpieces. He had a half dozen different Christmas albums, all with a sound and quality that was uniquely Sinatra.