CAROLS

‘Jingle Bells’ are tinkling across the city as Christmas is round the corner. while people have started marinating the Christmas cakes, carol singers are gearing up to greet near and dear ones in the most melodious way. All will gather round a bonfire on terrace to shake a leg on tuneful carols and relishing delicious cakes and dry fruits.
Charles Samuel, principal of Mount Carmel, who enjoys devotional singing quips, “Chalking out a list of friends that carol-group will visit does not work. Once you start singing at porch of one house, the whole locality would join in. Neighbours would then invite you to their houses.” Wife Annie Samuel titters, “The group ends up singing for days together. And finally, on Christmas everyone will complain of bad throat.”
The Samuels have carol and other devotional albums - “Lets Praise the Lord” and “Yishu Ke Pass”- to their credit. Even junior Samuels – Jefferson and Jonnathan are part of it. None learnt singing professionally but as they say – ‘Practice makes a man perfect.’
Charles says, “Since childhood I have been into carol singing. I composed few devotional numbers that the family insisted to treasure.” That’s how they planned to come out with soulful albums. The Samuels are a part of choir at Church in Sector 41 too.
‘Silent Night’ and ‘Oh! Holy Night’ are couple’s all time favourite. But junior Samuels love fast tracks. Elvis Presley’s “Snow is falling” is 15-year-old Jonnathan’s favourite, besides ‘Jingle bell.’ Talking about carol singing, Jonnathan titters, “At night you go around houses, sing songs and party hard – that’s the ultimate fun!”
Annie recalls one interesting incident. She says, “Once Charles and I were singing at Ladies Park in Simla. Famous music directors’ Laxmi Kant-Parey Lal heard us. They approached Charles for some Bollywood number and assured good fat amount.” But this devote singer refused. Charles says, “My voice is dedicated to God.”