GOSPELCONNOISSEUR.COM “12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS” SPOTLIGHTING AMAR KHALIL

A mar Khalil, the lead singer of Tony Toni Tone, (after replacing Raphael Saadiq) is on the move preparing for a solo career in 2011. Already making buzz with his new single “Born Again,” the forthcoming album by the same name will drop in the new year. Amar is certainly ready for people to experience this next chapter in his musical career. Also look for new things coming from Tony Toni Tone, including an appearance on “Way Black When” on TVONE.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST CHRISTMAS MEMORY? When I was about 5 or 6 years old, I wanted this bicycle for Christmas. I came down Christmas morning and it was not there. So I cried and my grandmother asked my grandfather about the bike, he had overslept and forgot to put it out. When, he rolled that red bike out, I was excited. I rode my brand new bike all.

WHAT IS THE WORST GIFT YOU EVER RECEIVED ON CHRISTMAS? The worst gift I ever got was from Antoinette Taylor, she gave me a pair socks. To make matters worst, I called myself doing it big for her, I went to Montgomery Wards, and bought her a necklace along with a hat, scarf, and glove set. But, she came with some socks!

HOW ARE YOU SPENDING THE HOLIDAYS THIS YEARS? This year is bittersweet, my first year without my father. He passed away in March. However, my wife and three children will spend the holidays in southern California.

WHAT’S YOUR “MUST HAVE” FOOD DISH FOR THE HOLIDAYS? Yams and my mother-in-law homemade rolls

DOES YOUR FAMILY HAVE ANY HOLIDAY TRADITIONS, THAT YOU STILL CARRY OUT? No traditions per say, the people who kept such traditions passed away before I was old enough to carry them out. Funny, I was trying to start a new tradition last year. We went out and cut a tree down from a tree farm. But that tree did not smell like Christmas, so we are going to have to find a new tradition.

FAVORITE HOLIDAY SONG? “A Strange Way To Save The World” – Fred Hammond