Who Really Wrote “Merry Christmas, Baby”

The co-author of a classic holiday song still can’t catch a break

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new song by a Los Angeles-based trio called Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers began showing up in record bins 70 years ago this month, just in time for the holidays:

But this being America, a counterpoint soon emerged.

Merry Christmas, baby,

You sure did treat me nice

In contrast to the nostalgic schmaltz of “White Christmas,” which was already (and remains) the best-selling Christmas single of all time, this was a blues number with a slow tempo, and it promised something new for the holidays: romance.

Gave me a diamond ring for Christmas,

Now I’m living in paradise

“Merry Christmas, Baby” rose to No. 3 on Billboard’s Jukebox R&B chart, and quickly became an American Christmas standard. More than 80 artists have covered it, from Elvis to Springsteen, Otis Redding to Billy Idol, Christina Aguilera to CeeLo Green. Jeff Beck and Frankie Valli joined forces for a version released just last fall.

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