Schenectady comes first for local singer
“American Idol” star to perform new tune at parade’s tree lighting
Nashville songwriter and producer Kenny Lamb has always found the holiday season magical.
“You just look back at time with family,” he said. “As you grow older, it starts to mean different things. And it’s so much about taking time to remember where the most valuable things are and spending time with people we care about and taking a minute to enjoy what we have to be grateful for.”
With his co-songwriter Anthony Little, he wrote “The Light of Christmas” and as soon as the words were put to music, he knew that Cohoes native Madison Vandenburg should be the one to sing it.
Vandenburg, who made her debut as a professional singer on Season 17 of American Idol and became one of the finalists, was delighted to sing “The Light of Christmas,” the season meaning a lot to her, too. The song is scheduled for release on Friday, and for the first public performance of it, she chose Saturday’s tree lighting in Schenectady at the annual Daily Gazette Holiday Parade.
“The Schenectady holiday parade has been a family tradition of mine actually,” said Vandenburg. “For years when I was younger, we used to go, and it was always an amazing time. And when we thought about unveiling ‘The Light of Christmas,’ we thought ... the Capital Region, because they were always my number one, they always had my back.”
Vandenburg grew up in Cohoes and is a graduate of Shaker High School in Colonie. She began singing professionally
while still in high school, performing in local restaurants like Philly’s Bar and Grill in Latham and TJ’S Flightline Pub in Glenville.
“Even though I was just playing for a room of strangers, and we were all there just to have a good time and share a night of music and drinks, people were so encouraging and so kind and supportive,” she said. “And they loved being in a room with music, and I loved performing for them. So definitely, the Capital Region has always been so good to me. And I will always be forever grateful for that.”
Vandenburg recorded the song in Nashville along with Lamb, Little and recording engineer Christopher Rowe. This was the first time they had ever met. Vandenburg credits everyone involved for the smoothness of the recording process and her happiness with the finished product. She is also scheduled to perform it at other holiday events across the country, including Chicago’s Thanksgiving Day parade. But Schenectady comes first.
“The Schenectady Holiday Parade is just a beautiful, beautiful parade and lots of fun,” said Vandenburg. “So many people turn out, and it’s always a great time.”