A Lou Rawls Christmas

Rawls would have turned 80 today, if he hadn't died of cancer in early 2006. And what better way to celebrate this December baby's life than to listen to a few of his greatest Christmas songs? Rawls released several Christmas albums, beginning with 1967's Merry Christmas! Ho! Ho! Ho!...

Rawls made holiday classics swing like never before…

…And he added his own flair to modern favorites.

Even if Christmas isn't your holiday of choice, there's a Lou Rawls song for you.

Lou Rawls performs at The Coconut Club, shown in this Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998, handout photo in Beverly Hills, Calif., showcasing his current record release "Seasons 4 U." (AP Photo/Jill Connelly)

Written by Linnea Crowther