A song for the season

By Joseph Farah

On Sept. 11, native New Yorker Nick Vallelonga felt as helpless as most Americans as he watched the World Trade Center towers crumble and burn.

In the weeks following the terrorist attack, however, the Bronx-born actor-filmmaker and musician decided to channel his frustrations, his sorrows, his grief into action.

“My cousin Michael worked on the 71st floor of Tower 2, and our family waited anxiously, concerned about his whereabouts,” Vallelonga recalls. “We thank God he made it out safely. I’m also thankful that my friend Brian, who was supposed to be on the first plane from Boston that hit the towers, was five minutes late and missed boarding the flight. Others weren’t so fortunate, and we mourn them together, at the same time proudly watching in wonder the heroic efforts of all the rescue workers. I went down to Ground Zero and was devastated by what I saw. I felt useless; I wanted to help and contribute something.”

What Vallelonga contributed is what some are calling “the song for the season.”

“New York City Christmas” was originally composed in 1982. The following year, it was considered as the official song of the tree-lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center. But it was passed over, and Vallelonga didn’t do anything with the song for 16 years.

In 1999, however, shortly after his mother died, Vallelonga was inspired to write a new bridge for the tune.

“I knew that one day I would re-record the song,” he says.

That day came in the mournful weeks after Sept. 11.

“After praying for the victims, their families and the rescue workers, again, some new lyrics for the Christmas song came to me, and I felt the time was right to record a new version,” he says. “I pray that this little song will raise some spirits and bring a smile to the faces of New Yorkers and anyone who loves New York as they listen to it during the holiday season. I also pray it reminds us all that through the birth of a baby in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago, God provided us with the strength and hope to start anew, along with the grace and love to overcome all our hardships and trials.”

Though he’s been in the entertainment business since he appeared in the wedding scene of “The Godfather” at the age of 12, Vallelonga isn’t using the traditional music industry methods to get this song heard this Christmas. Instead, he is making it available exclusively through WorldNetDaily’s online store, ShopNetDaily.

You may have seen Vallelonga in “Chicago Hope,” the CBS miniseries “Bella Mafia,” or the feature film “Coyote Ugly.” Or you may have caught him in “Kingdom of the Blind,” a film he wrote, produced and directed starring William Petersen from the hit CBS series “C.S.I.,” Kristian Alfonso from “Days of Our Lives” and his own father, Tony Lip, of “Sopranos” fame. But Vallelonga isn’t promoting his new CD for fame or fortune. This is a cause for Vallelonga. It’s a way for him to contribute something in the wake of America’s most devastating attack and biggest civilian casualty toll.

A significant portion of the sales — 20 percent of the profits — will go directly to assist the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.

If you would like to hear the song, you can go to MP3.com. If you would like to purchase it exclusively through the WorldNetDaily online store, ShopNetDaily, you can do so for only $9.95 and support the real fallen heroes of Sept. 11. The CD includes other songs, including a Spanish version of “New York City Christmas.”

Listen to our 60-second spot for “New York City Christmas” here:

Windows Media Format

RealAudio Format

Joseph Farah

Joseph Farah is founder, editor and chief executive officer of WND. He is the author or co-author of 13 books that have sold more than 5 million copies, including his latest, "The Gospel in Every Book of the Old Testament." Before launching WND as the first independent online news outlet in 1997, he served as editor in chief of major market dailies including the legendary Sacramento Union. Read more of Joseph Farah's articles here.