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From classics by Nat King Cole and Chuck Berry, fan club favorites by the Beatles and Pearl Jam, or tunes to keep you warm when you're not next to a fire by Tony Bennett, Mariah Carey and Harry Connick Jr., at some point in a musician's career, there's a holiday tune just waiting to be recorded.
In a career that's spanned 50 albums, three Grammy nominations, film and television soundtracks and gaming scores, David Arkenstone has made seven Christmas and holiday releases, with more surely on the way in the years to come.
He focuses on that work during his "Winter Fantasy Tour: Around the World One Winter's Eve," which arrives Wednesday at the Ford Family Recital Hall at DeYor Performing Arts Center.
His said his inspiration probably started while he was growing up. "I was outside of Chicago. It was pretty sweet with the snow and I didn't have to drive yet.
"It seems that there's a magic to the season that's natural, apart from the sacred. I think it comes from the end of the year and everybody who used live on the land had to take a break from that for a little bit. Then there's all these wonderful harvest parties and things like that. The turning of the year has always fascinated me because people get ready for the new year to do it all over again."
At age 10, his family moved to California. With his current residence overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Arkenstone admits that he needs to tap into his memories and be a little more creative to evoke the wintry spirit of the holidays.
"I think part of it got left behind for us because our first Christmas we spent on the beach. It was kind of unique and pretty cool, but I think you have to work a little harder in California because of natural things -- you can grow vegetables in the San Joaquin Valley all year long -- so the demarcation of the year ending is not as strong. So some of that got lost. But I love California, too.
"I always sought out the snow whenever I could. We'd go to Yosemite in the winter or Lake Tahoe. We still do that as a family."
The Winter Fantasy setlist concentrates on three of his holiday-themed releases -- the Celtic-influenced "Winter Fantasy," the groove-oriented "Christmas Lounge" and the new age "Visions of Christmas."
"We do an unplugged set during the second half of show, which is fun. We turn into a pub band. It's a great connection with the audience and we're not shackled by all the electronics we have going."
The performance allows him to return to his childhood when he heard traditional fare for the very first time.
"We play 'Arabian Dance' from 'The Nutcracker.' It stands out as a unique piece of music that's just a miracle. I can remember it being pretty much the first childhood memory I have of wondering how that sound was made. So, it's really important to me to keep playing that song.
"I was probably 4 or 5 and lifted the record needle and listened to it over and over again. It planted a seed of music taking a hold of me and put me on a path."
Due to his arranging skills, he must choose which version of a particular song to use in concert -- "Carol of the Bells" and "Deck the Halls" were recorded in lounge versions as well as in a Celtic style for the former and an intimate instrumental for the latter number.
With a musical diet during his youth of classical composers and classic rock, Arkenstone aimed for rock stardom that never happened. The arrival of synthesizer technology allowed him to produce not only the notes that were inside him but use them in such a way that his music would create imagistic storylines.
"It's like painting. I'm a visual artist. There's something that I see and that always starts it. I didn't care if people got the same image just as long as they got something visual."
Beginning with 1987's "Valley of the Clouds," Arkenstone connected with listeners who wanted to be taken on a sonic journey.
"I get these emails from people. 'I saw a big sea and a bunch of ships and…' It may not be what I saw but they get something visual that I had somehow been able to embed in the music."
On the trilogy that begins with "In the Wake of the Wind," "Quest of the Dream Warrior" and concludes with "Return of the Guardians," he worked within the framework of a storyline that can be read in the CD booklet while the music provides the soundtrack for the mind.
This year, the prolific artist released five albums that tapped into chill grooves, a fairy garden fantasy, eerie gothic sounds, a salute to Paris and, of course, another visit to a snowy white holiday season.
"I got over-inspired, for one thing," he said. "I had a couple of these albums full of music sitting around for four years and I needed to get them out of my space. They were tugging at me. So I thought I'd put them out, and it worked out pretty good."
He plans to slow down next year, with only two albums scheduled to come out. But if his creative muse shifts into overdrive, Arkenstone may, once again, allow his imagination to take over.
If you go …
WHO: David Arkenstone
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: Ford Family Recital Hall, DeYor Performing Arts Center, 260 W. Federal St., Youngstown
HOW MUCH: $35 and $20.