Schlitt offers fans a brand new tune which is destined to become a seasonal classic, "What Christmas Needs to Be," along with the beloved classic, "The Little Drummer Boy," which is transformed into something fresh and exciting when interpreted through Schlitt's signature vocal stylings. Both tunes went for adds on Monday, November 3.

"I love the John Schlitt spin on these two beautiful Christmas singles," says radio promoter Jeff McLaughlin of A-Sides Radio Promotion. "Producer Dan Needham did an incredible job with the arrangements, and I think John's fans will love them both!"

For more information on Schlitt and The Christmas Project, visit johnwschlitt.com or follow him on Twitter (@johnwschlitt) or Facebook (facebook.com/johnwschlitt).

About The Christmas Project:
The Christmas Project, available through Elevate Entertainment and Send The Light Distribution, can also be found at retailers including Lifeway Christian Stores, Family Christian Stores and Munce Group member stores, as well as online through BestBuy.com, Walmart.com, Amazon, iTunes and others.

"We're entering my favorite time of the year," says Schlitt. "What a joy to celebrate the season with two songs from my Christmas CD! "The Drummer Boy" is a classic and I am thrilled with the arrangement Dan, my producer, brought to the song. "What Christmas Needs To Be" is the only original song on the CD. It speaks to the underlying theme of the project...remembering that the true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus."

Schlitt launches The Christmas Project with what is arguably the greatest Christian song of all time, "The Hallelujah Chorus." While Handel's masterpiece has been interpreted by a multitude of musicians over the past 250 years, no one sings "hallelujah" like John Schlitt. "The Hallelujah Chorus" transitions seamlessly into a guitar-driven, barnburning version of "Do You Hear What I Hear." "Little Drummer Boy" gives Schlitt the freedom to explore his full range of vocal prowess, starting at a muted whisper before embracing his full-throttle, wailing rock roots while holding fast to the traditional melodies of the beloved carol. In addition to radio coverage, fans can enjoy the music video version of the song, elegantly produced by the award-winning Saylor Brothers Entertainment.

Schlitt reins in his potent vocals for a gentle, reverent interpretation of "Oh Holy Night," then ratchets up the intensity on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," a rock-inflected fist-pumper that is guaranteed to get the listener's blood flowing. The versatile vocalist shifts moods to one of pure fun with the funky Irish reel "Good Christian Men Rejoice," then slides comfortably into the mellow, bluesy "That Spirit of Christmas," a ballad made famous by Ray Charles.

Melancholy keys and strings embellish Schlitt's emotion-laden vocals on the traditionally arranged "We Three Kings." Destined to become a Christmas classic is the gently rocking radio single, "What Christmas Needs to Be." The project closes with the reflective "What Child Is This," which provides the perfect foil for Schlitt's signature vocal stylings, allowing him to channel his passionate delivery through a filter of awe at the enormity of this central event in history.

A music video of "Little Drummer Boy" by the award-winning Saylors Brothers (Israel & New Breed: Live From Another Level Concert DVD) is available on YouTube.

Schlitt utilized the popular crowd funding platform Kickstarter to raise financial support for the new album.

For more information on Schlitt and The Christmas Project, visit johnwschlitt.com.

About John Schlitt:
For more than four decades, John Schlitt has enjoyed a stellar musical career as a solo artist, as the lead singer for Grammy Award-winning Christian band Petra, one of the most successful Christian rock bands of all time, and as the former lead singer for popular '70s mainstream rock band Head East. He has been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as the lead singer of Petra during the years when the band won 10 Dove Awards and four Grammy Awards. Schlitt was named the best rock singer in Christian music history by GospelMusicChannel.com. According to the website, Schlitt "remains one of the most distinctive and impactful men to ever stand behind a microphone." Schlitt was also named Male Vocalist of the Year in About.com's 2011 Readers' Poll in a category that included Chris Tomlin, Jeremy Camp, Brandon Heath and Bebo Norman.

Since Schlitt released his fourth solo CD, The Greater Cause, in May 2012, the legendary vocalist's busy schedule has included appearances on The Mike Huckabee Show, 700 Club Interactive and the Faith & Freedom Celebration--the faith-based kick-off to the Republican National Convention, as well as extensive international touring.

For more information on Schlitt and The Christmas Project, visit johnwschlitt.com or follow him on Twitter (@johnwschlitt) or Facebook (facebook.com/johnwschlitt).

About A-Sides Radio Promotion:
A-Sides Radio Promotion works with both major artists and indie artists, keeping a tight filter while selecting songs for its singles roster to maintain commercial viability and great quality for radio stations. For more information, visit asidesradiopromotion.com

For more info on John Schlitt visit the JFH Artists Database.

 

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