Lansing kicks off the Christmas season tonight with the annual Silver Bells in the City celebration. The 35th Silver Bells will include a lighted float parade downtown at 6 p.m., fireworks over the capital building dome, the lighting of the official Christmas tree, and a community sing led by Detroit artist Ben Sharkey a little after 7:30.
Sharkey tells WKAR’s Scott Pohl that he kickstarted his singing career with self-made videos of songs like a performance of The Christmas Song. "After I finished up college," Sharkey explains, "I went to the College for Creative Studies in Detroit with a Bachelor's in fine arts. I'm also an artist. I wasn't really quite set on just becoming an artist because I wanted to be a musician as well, and so I started posting things online. It just kind of took off after a little while."
SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT CHRISTMAS MUSIC
It's not just about family, it's about community. It's about culture. For me, you know, it's about peace on earth. I think Christmas is a love of people and charity and family and just opening up your heart, to recognizing that not everyone is in their best place, and lend a helping hand. I just have a warm heart in the cold season.
HIS PLANS FOR SILVER BELLS
I typically do perform with live musicians, but this time I think because of the time allotted for switching out performances and whatever is going on in the program, we are doing pre-recorded music. I do have some people up there with me doing some backing vocals and some dancing and that kind of stuff, so it'll be good little show.
SHARKEY'S SONG SELECTION
Should it be a surprise? We're doing a little medley, doing the Andy Williams song and a Beatles song mashed up together. I'm sure it's gonna be an amazing time.