Arts & Entertainment

Grammy Nominee Performing at the Shaw's Christmas House

The Christmas music chiming through the air and the colorful 52,000 lights you see shining at 128 North Main Street in Cranbury will signal the start of a first-of-its kind holiday event. Grammy nominee and internationally renowned singer-songwriter Judy Pancoast will make a special guest appearance at the Shaw residence to perform in concert with the Shaw Family Christmas display and raise money and non perishable food for The local Food Banks.

Pancoast is known worldwide for her Christmas hit, “The House on Christmas Street”, which is used in animated lighting displays all over the US and beyond. She wrote the song in 1998 as a tribute to those homeowners who go out of their way to deck their houses in lights and pageantry each Christmas season; the ones who do it just to make a little magic for the young and the young at heart.

“Everywhere I’ve lived there’s been one of those houses,” says Pancoast. “It’s the one that everybody goes to see during the holidays. I have wonderful memories of going to see them as a kid, and when I was in my 20’s there was actually one house that cheered me during a very depressing chapter in my life.”

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After recording the song on her Christmas CD Pancoast pitched it to radio year after year, to no avail. She was told time and time again that her song would never be played until the music directors at the stations knew who she was. It seemed like a daunting task, and after several years of trying, Pancoast moved on to other musical projects.

It was in 2006 that Pancoast’s husband discovered the first video online of a house that was playing her song in its animated display with a synchronized light show blinking on and off to the music, and different lighted elements coordinated with the song’s lyrics. I have no idea how that first homeowner found it, but before long there were other videos popping up on various sites, and through them I found out about a worldwide network of “extreme” decorators who share information through a few online sites,” Pancoast marvels. “They’ve welcomed me into their community with open arms, and made “The House on Christmas Street” their theme song.”

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Keith Shaw is one of those decorators. The display is made up of 52,000 lights "dancing" lights choreographed to the music through 336 Channels controlling the lights and 19,000 feet of extension cords. The display features a 9,600 Light Mega Tree, 6,400 Custom Snow Flake Wall 10,000 Custom Fountain of Light designed and built by Keith.

The public is invited to the half-hour concert and is encouraged to bring a donation for of non perishable food. Cash donations will also be accepted and 100% of all donations will go to the local food banks. Pancoast will be signing free autographed photos following the performance.

“The House on Christmas Street” official video may be seen on cranburychristmaslights.com or YouTube.com

To find out more about Judy Pancoast, visit her website at www.judypancoast.com.


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