It is a beautiful afternoon in April, and I find myself deeply embedded in the recording studio of our dear friend Michael Sykes, on famous Music Row in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The Dogwoods and Redbuds are in full bloom, and the Tulips, my favorite flower, are beginning to pop up everywhere. It is a bit surreal to be singing Christmas songs in early spring, but that is what I am doing.

Under the able direction of co-producer Sykes, and our own Ace, Duane Allen, I am putting down a final lead vocal on a song called “Uncle Luther Made The Stuffin.’” Hopefully, many folks will hear it when our Oak Ridge Boys Bluegrass and acoustic-driven Christmas project is released in the fall by Spring Hill Music, Inc.

A new Christmas project, with a new feel and direction, will refresh our holiday repertoire and certainly add spirit and creativity to our 2005 Christmas tour (as well as our Feed The Children television specials).

“Hanging my stocking on the mantelpiece,” I sing over a driving fiddle and banjo-dominated track. I am having a blast. I just cannot believe that we are actually singing and recording Uncle Luther!

You have heard me say many times that every song represents a story of its own, as well as providing a personal time capsule for the listener – and the artist! Luther’s Stuffin’ is no exception!

When you hear the hook line, “Momma cooked the turkey...... Uncle Luther made the stuffin,’” you will smile. It is a fun song. A party song. A family song! As always, there is a real story lurking behind the music and lyrics.

Here we go........

When I was a very young man of eighteen years old, I was singing with a little Gospel band out of Philly called The Faith Four. We weren’t very good, but we sure had fun. And every time I hit the stage with that little group, I was placing another stone on the pile that would someday grow into whom I have become.

We were booked to sing at a movie theater in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, by the theater owner, Luther Holt. It seemed that Mr. Holt loved Gospel music, and about once month he would invite a group to come and sing in his historical Victoria Theater (which had become a famous coal region landmark in the middle of the Sixties). Every major and part time Gospel group in Pennsylvania would eventually make its way to the ‘VIC,’ as it was called.

Luther had three daughters, and tenor boy fell hard for the youngest, Barbara. She was pretty, and she even had her own car. We dated for several years before we married. Right after I joined the Oaks in 1973, Barbara and I had a daughter, Jennifer. We eventually divorced, which is another chapter of its own, but suffice it to say, Barb was and IS a wonderful woman – and I have always deeply loved and admired her family. Especially her father....... LUTHER!

He was always very good to me. A wonderful Christian man and Bible scholar who put God first in all things, he was also a real inventor and innovator who played a vital role in the early days of cable television. It all started in Pennsylvania, you know. And his little company in Frackville, called Holt Electronics, supplied all of the early components for the pioneer days of cable.

The man also made some might fine stuffin’!

The Holts were of German and Pennsylvania Dutch decent, and Momma Holt, Marion, was a wonderful cook. She cooked up a big dinner in the old-fashioned way. Great beans, corn, pot roasts and such – and on a holiday like Christmas or Thanksgiving, the whole family would gather in their humble little home and feast like kings and queens. Yes, Marion cooked the turkey, but Luther Holt always..... made the stuffin’!

To this day, I am not certain how he did it. A secret recipe? Strange and unusual seasonings? A magic touch? Whatever it was, “That sure was some mighty fine stuffin.” He would tell the children that he made it with his feet, and they would run screaming. A funny memory.

I first thought of Luther’s stuffin’ as a song idea in 1984, when the Oaks decided to record a second Christmas album for MCA. My Santa’s Song on the first album was actually my first real attempt at songwriting. So with a new project in the works, I felt confidant that I could write another Christmas song or two that might be relevant. So I wrote three. I remember I used a little Casio keyboard, while staying at Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas, when I wrote First Christmas Day, It’s Christmas Time Once Again, and my first version of Uncle Luther Made The Stuffin.’

I made Luther an “uncle” and tried to re-create the family reunion atmosphere that every family longs to have. Lots of relatives, lots of food and a real memorable time. The kind of memories that stick to your soul.

Well, the group loved the first two songs, but the stuffin’ song did NOT make it to The Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Again album in 1984. Years later we found ourselves on Capitol Records for about twenty-six minutes. We recorded a wonderful Christmas project for them, produced by Richard Landis. I wrote a song called Daddy’s Christmas Eve for that project, which is a song that has meant a lot to me over the years.

I also decided to rewrite Uncle Luther as a rap song. Hey, it was the Nineties, and I thought it was a fun idea! With the help of some good friends, we cut a heavy rap demo and pitched it to the BOYS! Actually, everyone got a real kick out of it, but once again Uncle Luther was put aside. There was no way the Oaks were going to cut a rap song about stuffin’!

I mentioned Uncle Luther again in passing a few years ago, however, as you may recall, the stuffin’ song did NOT appear on the An Inconvenient Christmas CD either.

I had all but given up on what I considered to be a fun song idea when, as fate would have it, a new opportunity presented itself with a Christmas project for 2005. Much like our Journey CD, this project would have a Bluegrass acoustic feel.

One day a few months back we were on the bus getting ready for a show and Duane Allen said to me, “You know man, that old ‘Uncle Cracker’ song of yours might fit this project. I never loved it, especially that awful rap version, however, you know me....... when you can still remember a song after all these years, there must be something to it! You should rework it and bring it out again.”

Then it hit me....... Uncle Luther....... CAN...... be rewritten with a Bluegrass feel! I was clicking my heels! I reached for the old Banjer and went to work!

I rewrote the bridge and reformatted the verses a bit. I even wrote a new verse. I ran my early ideas of the new ‘grassy’ version by Michael Sykes one day, and he just loved it. I was encouraged.

Then, the Mighty Oaks Band and I cut a kickin’ demo of the song, and all of the Boys took to it. YES!

How about them apples? Uncle Luther has now been recorded by The Oak
Ridge Boys, twenty-one years after I wrote the first version!

My inspiration for the song, Jennifer's “PAP PAP,” Luther Holt is still alive today, although he is struggling with his health and needs your prayers. He is a good man, and I pity anyone who doesn’t have someone like him in their family. Someday he will reunite with Marion in Glory. THIS...... is for certain!

I hope this fun little song causes everyone to reflect upon something wonderful in his or her Christmas past or present. Perhaps a good old family reunion with everyone there. Aunts and uncles, cousins and kids all over the place. A home that is alive with laughter and love – and great smells drifting in from the kitchen.

Back when Momma cooked the turkey......... and Uncle Luther made the STUFFIN’!

God Bless!

Addendum.......

Luther Holt went Home to be with Jesus on July 31, 2005. He has been
reunited with his wife Marion and his daughter. I am certain that,
although this great man will be missed by those left behind, there is
rejoicing in Glory at his Homecoming.

We WILL see him again. I dedicate this fun little song to his memory!