"Merry Christmas Baby" is an R & B Christmas standard written by Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore. The original 1947 version by Johnny Moore's Three Trailblazers (featuring singer/pianist Charles Brown (musician), is the definitive version of this song. Otis Ray Redding, Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger, and talent scout. He is considered one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music and a seminal artist in soul and rhythm and blues. His singing style was powerfully influential among soul artists of 1960s and helped exemplify the Stax sound. Born and raised in the US state of Georgia, Redding quit school at age 15 to support his family, working with Little Richard's backing band, the Upsetters, and also performing at talent shows for prize money. In 1958, he joined Johnny Jenkins's band, the Pinetoppers, and toured the Southern states as a driver and musician. An unscheduled appearance on a Stax recording session led to a contract and his first single, "These Arms of Mine," in 1962. Stax released Redding's debut album Pain in My Heart two years later. Initially popular mainly with African Americans, Redding later reached a wider American popular music audience. Along with his group, he first played small gigs in the American South, then performed in the western states at the popular Los Angeles night club Whisky a Go Go. European appearances included London, Paris and other major cities. After appearing at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, Redding wrote and recorded his iconic "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" with Steve Cropper. The song became the first posthumous number-one record on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts after his death in a plane crash. The Dock of the Bay became the first posthumous album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart. Redding's premature death devastated Stax. Already on the verge of bankruptcy, the label soon discovered that Atlantic Records owned the rights to his entire song catalog. Redding received many posthumous accolades, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He received the honorific nickname King of Soul. In addition to "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," "Respect" and "Try a Little Tenderness" are among his best-known songs. Merry Christmas baby Sure do treat me nice Merry Christmas baby Sure do treat me nice Bought me a diamond ring for Christmas I feel like I'm in paradise I feel mighty fine, y'all I've got music on my radio Feel mighty fine, girl I've got music on my radio, ho, ho, ho I feel like I'm gonna kiss you Standing beneath that mistletoe Santa came down the chimney Half past three, y'all Left all them good ole presents For my baby and for me, ha, ha, ha Merry Christmas baby Sure do treat me nice You bought me all those good ole presents I love you baby rest of my life Merry Christmas, girl Merry, merry, merry Christmas baby Sure do treat me nice Merry Christmas baby I said you sure do treat me nice You bought all those lovely things, yeah I feel like I'm in paradise I wish you a merry Christmas baby Happy new year, ha A merry Christams, honey Everything here is beautiful I love you, baby For everything that you give me I love you, honey...

Louis Armstrong Vocals Ed Grady - Drums Louis Armstrong, Billy Butterfield - Trumpet Lou Mc Garity, Cutty Cutshall - Trombone Al Klink, Hyme Schertzer - Sax Bernie Leighton - Piano Carmen Mastren - Guitar Arvell Shaw - Bass ............................................ Recorded - Oct. 22,1953 at Decca Records