Last August, The Reporter introduced readers to Ma Bell, a.k.a. Kathy Bell from Sheridan. Bell is a singer-songwriter who has two platinum-level singles. You can read all about our interview with Ma Bell at tinyurl.com/MeetMaBell.
In early November of this year, while working the polls in Westfield, Bell met Barb Brockhoff of Cicero and the two became fast friends. Bell and Brockhoff collaborated on a new single, “Christmas in the Country,” which is already getting tracking on Airplay Express.
The music and lyrics for “Christmas in the Country” were written by Brockhoff, performed by Bell, and produced by Bell’s friend and creative partner Bob McGilpin in Nashville, Tenn.
Graphic provided
“I started writing it while we were working the polls together,” Brockhoff told The Reporter. “It was so beautiful then you know with the leaves and everything, and I was just thinking about Christmas. Christmas had already started in the stores and the song is actually a memory of everything that was good about Christmas when I was a kid.”
Brockhoff called this experience a dream come true.
“You know, even at 74 your dreams can come true,” Brockhoff said. “It’s just fun to watch to see what it does, and if I would get a platinum record, I would faint and that would probably be the end of me.”
While this newspaper does not want to be responsible for making Brockhoff faint, “Christmas in the Country” is currently featured in the 2023 Christmas Tunes Collection on Airplay Express and you can listen or download a copy at airplayexpress.com/christmasexpress-2023.
I have had the privilege of seeing Ma Bell perform the song, Christmas in the Country, with the writer Barb Brockhoff. The performance was really special because Ma Bell was dressed up like Mrs. Clause and Barb Brockhoff was dressed up like Santa Claus. This is such a heart touching song. I believe when people listen to it, it will bring back many good memories.