Biography

Carolina Christmas
Lynn Goldsmith
SwanSound Music BMI
2014

Carolina Christmas, by Lynn Goldsmith, is the original title track of a 16-song project. Lynn was inspired to write the song while playing her Christmas Holiday set, as a solo artist, at venues during the Old-Fashioned Christmas event in the small town of Hendersonville, NC. The horse drawn carriages and smiling people on the streets enjoying the event in the cool, crisp air of the season. She plays that entire Holiday set on this CD. It is produced by veteran producer Eddie Swann, and Lynn Goldsmith, and was recorded and mixed at Regal Media Group in Mills River, NC. This project features Lynn’s vocals and guitar, with the incredible musicianship of David Johnson and Eddie Swann, with songs that highlight an acoustic sound and some with tasteful electric and pedal steel guitar features. It’s comprised of the original Carolina Christmas, classic Holiday standards and several gospel Christmas songs, for a mix that appeals to many listening groups. Many of Lynn’s listeners play this CD throughout the year, not just during the Holiday season. This project is a must for listeners that enjoy Holiday music.

Carolina Christmas (Feature) Time: 4:54
Writer: Julia Lynn Goldsmith
Publisher: SwanSound Music BMI

This song was inspired by the Old-Fashioned Christmas event in the small town of Hendersonville, NC where Lynn was playing Christmas Holiday music in an art gallery there. The horse-drawn carriages and smiling people enjoying the event in the cool crisp air of the season, were the visions that created this song. It is in one of Lynn’s favorite chords, Drop D tuning, and features Lynn on acoustic guitar and vocals. David Johnson on acoustic and electric leads, fiddle and dobro, and Eddie Swann on bass and percussion.

Mary did You Know (Feature) Time: 3:49
Mark Lowery and Buddy Greene
Rufus Music/Word Music, LLC/ASCAP

This song is one of Lynn’s favorite Christmas songs. Her acoustic style comes through and tries to project the feeling of the times of Jesus birth and how Mary’s role was so important. The sound of the acoustic guitar, mandolin and fiddle try to create the emotion of a young middle-eastern woman in that time in history. Lynn’s vocals and acoustic guitar (and opening and closing lead guitar), David Johnson- acoustic guitar lead, mandolin and fiddle and Eddie Swann-bass.

Just a Candle in the Window Time: 3:38
Writers: Walt Aldridge/Gary Baker
Publisher: Colgems EMI/Universal Music-Z /ASCAP Susan Longacre/SESAC

This song is about a tradition from the British Isles where they put a candle in the window during the Christmas season. It’s Lynn’s mothers favorite Christmas song and she plays it often for her during the Holiday season. It features Lynn’s vocals and guitar, David Johnson on electric guitar and pedal steel and Eddie Swann-bass and percussion.

Winter Wonderland Time: 2:23
Writers: Felix Bernard/Richard B. Smith 1934
Publisher: Richard Smith ASCAP

This is a song Lynn’s Mom played on the piano during the Holiday’s and Lynn sang along since childhood. Lynn’s rendition is a lively country/rock feeling that really brings an old time Holiday feeling. Lynn on vocals and guitar, David Johnson on electric guitar and pedal steel and Eddie Swann on bass and percussion.

Away in a Manger Time: 2:28
Public Domain

Lynn sang this song as a child in rural Western North Carolina during the Holidays. The first two verses are an old version of the song and the third verse is the traditional version. Lynn-vocals, guitar (lead), David Johnson-fiddle and mandolin and Eddie Swann-bass.

Go Tell it on the Mountain Time: 3:23
Writer: John Wesley Work, Jr. 1865
Publisher: Public Domain

Lynn liked the more updated version of this song and with a little more electric feel. A song with a great message for the season. Lynn-vocals and guitar, David Johnson-electric guitar and dobro and Eddie Swann-bass percussion.

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem Time: 3:52
Writer: A.L. Phipps
Publisher: Fort Knox Music Inc./BMI

One of Lynn’s favorite old Hymn’s. She played it in a small family band with her uncle and aunt growing up, and has kept it in her set list. Lynn-vocals, harmony vocals and guitar, lead guitar, David Johnson- dobro, fiddle and mandolin and Eddie Swann-bass.

Christmas in Dixie Time: 3:15
Writers: Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry, Mark Herndon, Randy Owen
Publisher: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/ BMI

Being from the rural South, Lynn really identifies with this song originally recorded by one of her favorite groups, Alabama. Lynn-vocals and guitar (acoustic lead), David Johnson-mandolin and electric guitar and Eddie Swann-bass and percussion.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Time: 3:21
Writer: Ralph Blane/Hugh Martin/1943/1957/1971/1972
Publisher: Hugh Martin/ ASCAP

One of Lynn’s most favorite Christmas songs. In the song she conveys the heartfelt feeling of Christmas from days gone by with family and friends. This song will always be in the Lynn’s set list. Lynn-guitar, vocals, David Johnson- electric guitar and Eddie Swann-bass.

Jingle Bell Rock Time: 2:27
Writer: Joseph Carleton Beal James Ross Boothe 1958
Publisher: Anne Rachael Music/ ASCAP

A bright and happy song. When Lynn practiced this song, her Border Collie, Dugan, would always listen to this song. If she wasn’t home and it came on, Dugan would go to the radio or television and listen to it, knowing that she played it. Lynn-guitar and vocals, David Johnson-electric guitar and Eddie Swann-bass.

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree Time: 2:20
Writer: Johnny Marks
Publisher: St. Nicholas Music Inc./ASCAP

A fun and lively Holiday song. Lynn always enjoys playing this song at Holiday parties. It’s one that everyone sings along too. Lynn-Guitar and vocal, David Johnson-electric guitar and pedal steel and Eddie Swann- bass and percussion.

Silent Night Time: 3:44
Writer: Franz Xavier Gruber/Joseph Mohr 1818
Publisher: Public Domain

A great old classic hymn. Lynn plays this song in the Drop D tuning that she feels brings a great depth of emotion and heartfelt resonance to songs and ads so much to slower songs. The drone of the low D strikes a subliminal emotion for the listener. Lynn-vocals and guitar, David Johnson-dobro, fiddle and acoustic guitar and Eddie Swann-bass.

Santa Baby Time: 2:52
Writer: Joan Javits
Publisher: Tamir Music ASCAP

When Lynn was playing solo gigs at an art gallery in Hendersonville, NC store owner, David Hill an early Major League Baseball player, asked her to learn this song and she did. So many people loved it and it was put on the set list for keeps. It’s a fun song for Lynn and she enjoys making it her own. Lynn-vocals and guitar, David Johnson-electric guitar and harmonica and Eddie Swann-bass and percussion.

Silver Bells Time: 3:17
Writer: Jay Livingston/Ray Evans
Publisher: Sony ATV Harmony/ASCAP

Lynn enjoys older classic Holiday songs that she heard and sang growing up. Her vocals bring a warm feeling on this song that revive the old time feeling of the Holiday’s. Lynn-vocals and guitar, David Johnson-Fiddle, electric guitar and pedal steel and Eddie Swann-bass.

Tennessee Christmas Time: 4:29
Writer: Amy Grant/Gary Chapman
Publisher: Meadowgreen Music/Word Music, LLC /ASCAP

This is an all time favorite for Lynn, who is a long time Amy Grant fan! She’s been playing this song for many years! Lynn- vocals and guitar and David Johnson-dobro and fiddle.

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire Time: 3:06
Writer: Bob Wells/Mel Torme’
Publisher: Morris Edwin H and Co. Inc/Sony ATV Tunes LLC/ ASCAP

Lynn has always loved this song and put it in her Holiday set list from the start. Lynn- vocals and guitar and David Johnson- electric and acoustic guitar and fiddle.