
NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Curb Records) - Curb Records will release a new collection of holiday recordings from KIMBERLEY LOCKE on November 6, 2007. Simply titled "Christmas," the set will include her two Billboard No 1 AC hits "
Up On The Housetop" (2005) and "
Jingle Bells" (2006). Other highlights include classic arrangements of holiday must-hear songs including "Frosty the Snowman," "Away In A Manger, "Holly Jolly Christmas," as well Locke's take on some more modern classics like Wham's "Last Christmas," and The Carpenter's "Merry Christmas Darling." Kimberley joined sax man
Dave Koz (Capitol/EMI) for a bluesy version of "Please Come Home For Christmas." The album will be sold as an exclusive digital download via all digital outlets including iTunes.
"Whenever a newer recording artist makes a holiday album, I find it works best if they capture the sound from Christmases past," explains Locke. "I feel we caught the warmth and fun of a classic Christmas sprinkled with some cool, modern twists."
Keeping busy this winter, Locke will join Koz for "Dave Koz & Friends: A Smooth Jazz Christmas" concert tour. Beginning November 26 at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, MD, the tour will visit over 20 cities throughout December.
As she looks to next year, Locke recently mentioned to Billboard that she, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken are in talks to "hopefully" hit the concert circuit in '08 for a tour titled "Reunited: 5 Years Later." Studdard, Aiken and Locke were 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively on season 2 of "American Idol."
Locke recently scored her fifth top 10 Billboard AC hit with "Change." Lifted from her sophomore set for Curb, "Based on a True Story," remixed versions hit No 1 on Billboard Club. The new single, "Band of Gold," a cover of the 1970 Freda Payne hit, is currently in the top 20 on Billboard AC with dance mixes being serviced to clubs later this month.
Earlier this year, Kimberley Locke got in shape on the VH1 series "Celebrity Fit Club 5." She continues to lose (nearly 40 pounds and counting) through her endorsement deal as a Jenny Craig spokesperson.
Track listing for Kimberley Locke's "Christmas" is below.
Up On The Housetop
Jingle Bells
Merry Christmas Darling
Last Christmas*
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
Mary Did You Know?
Away In A Manger
Holly Jolly Christmas
We Need A Little Christmas
Frosty the Snowman
Ave Maria
Produced by Michael Lloyd & Mike Curb
*Mark Feist & Damon Sharp