12/12/2008

By GARY DEMUTH

Salina Journal

After singer Les Lankhorst finished his first Christmas concert in Salina last year, a member of the audience told him it reminded her of a "TV special from the 1960s."

Lankhorst was pleased, "It's exactly what I was shooting for," he said.

Lankhorst grew up watching annual television specials that featured crooners like Andy Williams, Bing Crosby and Perry Como singing Christmas favorites for family audiences. That's what Lankhorst has strived to recreate with his live Christmas show.

"I want to create an intimate feeling, like the audience is coming into my living room," he said.

Lankhorst will perform his Christmas concert Thursday through Dec. 21 at Salina Community Theatre, 303 E. Iron.

A Salina native, Lankhorst is a professional singer who has performed in nightclubs, concert halls, theaters and cruise ships throughout the world. His musical specialty is the classic swing songs of the 1940s and 1950s, popularized by legendary vocalists such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., and reinterpreted by contemporary singers like Michael Buble and Harry Connick Jr.

Lankhorst has performed several times in Salina at Salina Community Theatre, Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts and Smoky Hill River Festival. He also headlined a swing and strings concert with the Salina Symphony in May 2007.

Last year, Lankhorst presented his first Salina Christmas concert, "I'll Be Home for Christmas," to enthusiastic audiences. So it's fitting he chose to call his second concert "Back for the Holidays."

"Last year was the most fun I've ever had doing a concert, so I'm glad to be doing it again here," he said.

Last year's three weekend concert performances sold out quickly, Lankhorst said, so this year he is adding a Thursday performance.

Will include guests

Lankhorst will perform beloved Christmas classics such as "White Christmas, "Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas," "O Holy Night," "The Christmas Song" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," along with new additions this year such as "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Sleigh Ride."

The concert also will include standards from Lankhorst's regular swing show, backed by a band of local musicians. Pianist Gayle McMillen will be musical director, a duty he performed last year.

Lankhorst has invited several guests to perform with him, including family members and a singer from Kansas State University, Chelsea Fritch, who will duet with Lankhorst on the Celine Dion/Andrea Bocelli classic "The Prayer."

Lankhorst will be joined by family members to sing the Amy Grant ballad "Heirlooms." The harmonic ballad has been sung by Lankhorst, his brother Alex and younger sister Cristel nearly every Christmas for 20 years at their home church, Trinity United Methodist Church, 901 E. Neal.

Members of the Trinity Chancel Choir also plan to join Lankhorst for a rendition of "Silent Night."

Special time of the year

Lankhorst said the Christmas season always has been a special time of year for him.

"It's the time of year that meant the most to me as a kid," he said. "It was a time I knew my brother and sisters would be around, and we'd be singing a lot at church and at other places."

Lankhorst said his Christmas concert provides a great opportunity to bring family, friends and church together.

"It's a way to bring my Christmas past into the present," he said.

nReporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by e-mail at gdemuth@salina.com.

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