In 1989, Martin and Blaine, who has since died, joined Terry Gross for a discussion about their lives and the story of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” which has since been recorded by scores of musicians — including Tori Amos, Garth Brooks, Robert Goulet, Lady Antebellum, James Taylor and Bob Dylan, to name just a few — in the past 65 years.
The song “began with the melody,” Martin said. “I found a little madrigal-like tune that I liked but couldn’t make work, so I played with it for two or three days and then threw it in the wastebasket.”
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