Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Ron Sexsmith Christmas Spectacular: Toronto Mike'd #1603

Episode Date: December 18, 2024

In this 1603rd episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with holiday hitmaker Ron Sexsmith about Maybe This Christmas reaching #1. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, The Yes We Are Open podcast from Moneris and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at [e-mail]

Maybe this Christmas will mean something more Maybe this year, love will appear Deeper than ever before And maybe forgiveness will ask us to call Someone we love, someone we've lost For reasons we can't quite recall Maybe this Christmas Maybe there'll be an open door Maybe the star that shone before will shine once more And maybe this Christmas we'll find us at last In heavenly peace, great for at least, for the love we've been shown in the past Oh, maybe this Christmas, maybe this Christmas Welcome to episode 160003 of Toronto Miked! Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, a fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times, and brewing amazing beer. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA.

Palma Pasta Enjoy the taste of fresh, homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. Season 7 of Yes We Are Open, an award-winning podcast from Minaris hosted by FOTM Al Greggo. Recycle MyElectronics.ca, committing to our planet's future means properly recycling our electronics of the past. And Ridley Funeral Home, pillars of the community since 1921. Joining me today on his mom's 83rd birthday, celebrating his Christmas miracle. That's right, Ron Sexsmith is a hitmaker. Celebrating his Christmas miracle.

That's right. Ron Sexsmith is a hit maker. It's FOTM Ron Sexsmith. Merry Christmas Ron Sexsmith. Hey Mike, Merry Christmas. How does it feel Ron to be a hit maker? You hit number one on the iTunes holiday song chart? I got so many questions, but how does it feel to be the hit maker Ron sex man?

Well, that's that's a first for me I've never been number one at anything, you know, maybe Potato sack race once or something like that, you know But I mean if I was in England when I found out when I got the news and it was very exciting. And I probably wasn't number one the next day, but you know, or maybe it was a couple days. I don't know how long it lasted, but it was very, I mean, it took long enough, didn't it? You know? Well, better late than ever. But I always say cream will eventually rise. It might take a little bit of time, but cream will eventually rise.

Well, you know, it's my most covered song. So I think it was inevitable that somebody would do it, and it would create some kind of buzz. I mean, it was funny when I first heard about it, I got an email, a random email from the producer of it. And I just, I just, you know, put it on, he sent me a file and I didn't tell my wife she was in the next room. So she heard this guy sing and she didn't know who it was. And then all of a sudden the unmistakable Stevie Nicks comes on and it was a real sort of, oh, wow,

kind of moment. And yeah, so I was just hugely flattered and honored that they decided to do my little song, you know? Well, now we're going to get the people who are living under a rock and say, what are we talking about? Ron Sexsmith, Stevie Nicks, the song went to number one. What's going on? Let's, you know, Toronto Mike, we like to get in the weeds a little bit, get a little granular. But the song we're talking about is called Maybe This Christmas and the version that went to number one is a duet with not just Stevie Nicks, but former Philadelphia Eagle NFL player, Jason Kelsey. So they do a duet. So I'm going to ask you a whole bunch of questions

to get the detail, but I'm going to go you a whole bunch of questions to get the detail, but I'm going to go back if you don't mind, like take us back to 2002, I suppose. And tell us about, you know, writing maybe this Christmas and maybe the album, because the album's called maybe this Christmas. Give us like a one-on-one on when you wrote this song and what compilation it was released on and all that back in the early 2000s? Well, the song was actually written I think in 1999. It was written on Christmas Day. It was, you know, I mean Christmas can be really hard for some people, you know, there's

family issues and this and that and my family life was a bit strained at the time. And I was hoping that it would be a good one, you know, cause we've all had, you know, magical Christmases or you know what I mean? Like Christmas is that seem more special and then you'll have all bunch in a row. They just sort of come and go and they don't really leave an impression. So it was that hope that this Christmas would be something more special or something. So I wrote the lyrics came really, really quickly. But then, you know, I didn't really know what to do with the song until I was signed to network records in America. And they were doing this compilation and they asked me, you know, if I had something. So I went to the studio with my buddy Don Kerr and we made the version that

you may know. And it's just me and Don playing on it, you know, I was very sort of amateur hour and but then lo and behold it became the title track for this tribute album which kind of took me by surprise. And then almost immediately we started getting, you know, placements for it, like in on a show called the OC and different television shows were using it. And then it's just every year it's been like an evergreen, no pun intended, you know, that it just keeps sort of the gift that keeps giving. I love the fact you wrote it on Christmas Day because I always hear about these iconic Christmas songs that were inundated with at this time of year and they're written like

in LA in July or something in like a 110 degree Fahrenheit day. But this is authentic. You wrote this on Christmas Day. Yeah. And the thing is I had the music written even before that, like years before, but I just assumed it was an instrumental. And I just, I was just playing around with it. And like I say, the lyrics came really fast and it was kind of my, I guess my own Christmas present to myself on that particular

Christmas. Yeah, I mean, the song means so much to me that, you know, I think it just really, for some reason for a lot of people, I think it connects, you know, or it resonates because of how difficult Christmas can be. And you know, there's a lot of fluffy Christmas songs about, you know, silly things and that. And I think it's nice to have one that's I mean, it's a hopeful song, but it's also, you know, I think people can relate to feeling estranged from folks and family or being away far from home. So anyway, I feel kind of lucky that I managed to put it all together. So you mentioned earlier that this compilation from Network Records is called maybe this Christmas, but was that a surprise to you? Like when you found out they were going to

name the compilation after your recording or were you, I don't know, were you like, did you have a role in that somehow beyond writing a great song? I don't even think they told me. I think it just came out and my publisher told me or something and it was exciting because You know me cold plays on there. You know, I think I can't remember who all's on I think Baron like the ladies maybe around there, but it's just I just couldn't believe they picked my song and and I was at this that was at a very exciting time in my career because I was sort of getting a bit of a lift by Coldplay, you

know, who they had kind of picked me up and took me on the road with them. And I started having my first success even in Canada with the CDs I was making. I was getting, you know, lots of play on much more music and this and that. So it was an exciting time and that was just one of those little added things that made it special. And they ended up, you know, this became a series, like, so it's not just a one-off compilation album released in 2002, but they put out one in 2003, they put out another in 2004, like this is a series of three holiday compilations.

Yeah. And, and it's like I say, I mean, it gets covered. It's been done in so many different languages and this and that. So when you write a Christmas song, I mean, I don't know if Irving Berlin, when he was writing White Christmas, ever imagined it was going to be this thing. He probably wrote his in July in LA or something.

I don't know. But yeah, you kind of hope that it'll be one that people gravitate towards. And I think, too, the melody of it, for the longest time, I didn't really know what words could go with it. And it almost feels like a no brainer. Like the music, just without the lyrics, sounds like a Christmas song.

So yeah, I'm just happy I wrote one. I mean, I did write a few other Christmas songs that did nothing at all, but this one seems to, you know, seems to have some staying power. So we'll dive into a just a little deeper into the actual version that went to number one on the the holiday song chart. And like you said, I mean, this is a first for you, a singer-songwriter, by the way, because as you know, on Toronto Mic'd, I talked to many a singer-songwriter, and the name Ron Sexsmith comes up so often.

I wonder if your ears are burning in Stratford there, because you're the singer-songwriter that so many Canadian, and not just Canadians, but singer-songwriters look to and say, you're the singer-songwriter that so many Canadian, and not just Canadians, but singer-songwriters look to and say you're the inspiration, you're the model, they love your stuff. So I feel like your critical praise in this country has never been matched, never been in sync, if you will, with your commercial success. So I feel like that you hitting number one, this is the the moment like better late than never. Yeah. And I mean, I'm just finishing up my 18th album. So maybe they can ride on the coattails of that. You know, maybe it can't hurt me.

No, I don't think it can hurt at all. And we were trying to find a way to reach out to Jason Kelsey, actually, and thank him for doing it. I actually thought his voice was really nice, you know, he sings in a very unpretentious way and a nice nice round tone. So if I if I can figure out how to thank him, I will or Stevie is, you know, too. Unbelievable. It's like you're getting some of that Taylor Swift heat, right? Because Because as you know, we shut down the city when Taylor comes to town. Like there's nothing bigger on the planet

when it comes to pop culture. You got Taylor Swift dating a current NFL player with Kansas City Chiefs, Travis Kelsey, Jason Kelsey. I'm gonna ask you about it in a moment, retired now, but he's one of the voices with Stevie Nicks on the cover that went to number one. A little housekeeping before we dive into that version, which is to let the listenership

know, there is a Ron Sexsmith episode of Toronto Mic'd and I'm going to read the description I wrote at the time. So we recorded Ron in September, 2021. And here's what I wrote in this 914th episode. So everybody go to episode 914 to hear the ongoing history of Ron Sexsmith. But Mike chats with Ron Sexsmith about working with Kurt Swinghammer, Bob Wiseman, Daniel Lenoir, median Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney, Ray Davis, Leonard Cohen, seeing a UFO. Holy smokes, got to go back for that and so much more so episode 914 is where you go if you want the the deep dive with the the career the wonderful career

of Ron sexsmith. I got a note from Kevin glue who wants me to tell you that you are his all-time favorite songwriter. Oh wow that's nice. Do you hear that a lot? Like do you hear people will be like Ron, because he said he also said that it's awesome that you're coming back to Toronto Mike, but for this you know Christmas spectacular. But do you hear that a lot and how do you feel when somebody comes up to you and says, that's not Paul McCartney, you know it's not it's not you know Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, it's not dylan you ron sexsmith are my favorite songwriter Um, I do I mean I hear it. Um, I don't you know, it's always

You don't really believe it And they say that but I mean I hear it mostly I guess when i'm on tour and you meet people after the show and they'll Tell you stuff you would never get to hear otherwise, you know, this song was used at So-and-so's wedding or something or something, you know, the song was used at so and so's wedding or something, you know, or the song, you know, changed my life or, I mean, it's amazing, because obviously, I write these songs mostly for my own head, if I'm feeling a certain way, I'm trying to figure stuff out. And, and I do try to keep it sort of universal so that it that other people can relate to it. But I mean, I'm not good at anything else. This is this one thing that I do. And that's I'm not

even exaggerating. So this songwriting is I pour everything into it. I pour, you know, all my emotions, everything into it. And I do the work, you know, so I'm really glad that some people into it. And I do the work, you know, so I'm really glad that some people take a notice of this. And I'm just lucky to have a career. I mean, I'm you know, this album I'm working on now is my 18th full length record. And that's insane. And when does that come out? Like, when can people hear that? Well, they're just starting just getting ready to mix it. And I think they're going to be adding I just spoke with my producer today. Actually, he's over in the UK, but he's talking about adding strings. And so I'm really excited to hear what he adds to it. But they're talking like May, but it seems overly optimistic. But May would be amazing. That would be the fastest turnaround, I think, of my career.

Well, you're getting better at this. And you got it. You know and you got to strike while the iron is hot. Yeah. Well, they are aware of that idea too with the song and yeah. So I hope we can make that happen. I mean, we're even working on the artwork as we speak too. So I hope I can get it out by May or early summer. So this version that went to number one, Jason Kelsey and Stevie Nicks, it's from, there's an annual Philadelphia themed holiday album that Jason puts out called A Philly Special

Christmas Party. And this of course is this duet, big hit. So I have multiple questions, but one is, have you noticed since this song broke, have you noticed that American outlets are wanting to talk to you? Has there been like an increase in US publications saying, hey, I need to talk to whoever wrote this wonderful, maybe this Christmas? Well, you know, I just, I did a zoom last week with a journalist, but I can't remember if he was from America or not, but it hasn't really happened you know I mean I was hoping that because often I'd say about 80% of people whenever they hear a song sung by someone they're not thinking who wrote it you know what I mean um so and that's you know

you're kind of in the shadows when you're a songwriter unless you're a singer songwriter, you know, so I think I'm happy that the people involved in this record have put it out there that I wrote the song or you know that Travis and I mean, sorry, Jason and Stevie covered a Ron Sexsmith song and I'm sure a lot of people go who is Ron Sexsmith and why should I care, you know, but I, you know, but hopefully, I think a lot of people do know that I wrote this one. Same way that people know Irving Berlin wrote wrote white Christmas, right? Because it's, when I see it on YouTube, when someone covers it to someone in their house somewhere, that'll always say covers Ron sex mints, maybe this Christmas. Right. So, so I'm happy about that, you know, but maybe maybe people will more people will ask

me. I don't know. We'll see. Did you know the name Jason Kelsey before you heard this cover of your song? Well, I only knew knew about him through the Taylor Swift connection because obviously Taylor Swift is front page news, everything she does. And, and I'd heard that she was dating Travis. And then I remember seeing some stuff on television where they were in the in the box, you know, and

they were, Jason was there too. And but I'm not a sports buff, you know, I mean, I, my son is a huge football fan. I think he was probably more intrigued, you know, initially, that I was but I mean, we just, you know, watch the Jace, the Jason documentary, you know, that was very eye opening and he just seems like a really sweet person. They both do. And they're from Ohio, which is where my wife's from too. So she fills a connection. But no, I mean, I, it just came right out of left field and, but obviously, yeah, that we have the sort of six degrees Taylor Swift thing going on.

Yeah, you really have to not know about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce and then Jason. You kind of have to be somebody who unplugs from any form of media, be it mainstream or social. That's one of those things where it's in the zeitgeist, and if you're at all plugged in, you can't really miss it. Yeah. Yeah. And, and I am plugged in. I don't want to have a cell phone or anything, but I obviously have a laptop that I'm talking to you on now.

And I, you know, and there's just being in this biz that I'm in, you kind of sort of have to keep up with things a little bit. You know, I try to, although, you know, I, I still mostly, you know, listen to vinyl and you know, I don't, I like to be in my own little world as much as possible. Kind of remarkable that in 2024, as it comes to an end that you're still without a mobile device that's, that's amazing. Well, I mean, I don't know, I feel I don't want to sound boasting about it, but I just without a mobile device. That's amazing. Well, I mean, I don't know, I feel I don't want to sound boasting about it. But I just, for me,

I'm not really a phone person. I have a landline. I'm afraid that probably someday I'll go to use my landline and they'll say, Oh, you can't use these anymore. You know, like the phone booth or something. And then I'll be forced to get one. That may happen. I mean, the world is changing so fast. I heard, read the other day somewhere that they're talking about getting rid of passports and just using face recognition. That scares me. I think that might make me stop going anywhere after that.

But yeah, I am a bit of a stegosaurus in this world, but I like it that way, you know. Yeah, and again, I got you on a Zoom, so you're not too much of a Luddite because here you are. You remember the first Zoom we did. I don't know if you remember. I had the hardest time logging on. I remember seeing you and not figuring out how to get the sound working.

So I've gotten a little better. You've come a long way, baby. So just so I have a little more detail on this version that went to number one with Jason and Stevie. So, and I don't know how it works in the music world. You'll tell me right now, but can anybody cover your music and not tell you, do you have to approve? Like, can, I don't know,

can anybody just decide I'm gonna cover a Ron Sexmas song and you'll just find out when it's on the radio or something? Well, they have to go if it's a commercial thing, if they're doing it on a record or if they're doing it, or if it's a TV show wants to use it, they have to go through my publisher, which is Sony, but they don't have to go through me. I mean, sometimes the Sony will write me and say we had this request for this or that song to be used for this purpose or that movie. And

they'll ask me if I approve and 99% of the time I'll say yes, you know, if they want to use the Trump rally, I'll say no, or something. But in general, I'll say yes, you can use it. So, you know, it's like, but they don't have to tell me. And there's a lot of people who do my songs on YouTube that they don't have to tell Sony or me, they're just going to write. But I appreciate it when they say who wrote it, you know, at least. Okay, so so Sony, for example, would have got a request for the OC to use your version of this song maybe this Christmas.

But did Sony say to you, hey Ron, is it okay if the OC airs your song or they don't have to? Do they give you that courtesy for the OC specifically? They don't have to. Usually, again, I'm usually the last person, or my manager will tell me, but know I don't know I know how it works that way but the thing is yeah you know these songs they're out there and people want to do them and it's just it's just flattering I mean I can't really imagine ever turning anything down you know right maybe when R Kelly wants to do a

remix of maybe this Christmas okay so when in the chain of things like when do you get notified? You mentioned the producers sent you the file. Was that like a courtesy? Out of respect for you as a songwriter to maybe to hey What do you think this song has just been covered by Jason Kelsey and Stevie Nicks? Is that when you learned this was happening? Yeah, and the producer, um, I apparently I'd met him before I did a show in New York at the city winery there and where there was a choir, a men's choir, and they asked me, they wanted to back me up on a Harry Nilsson song that I had recorded called Good Old Desk. And apparently this fellow was in that choir, but I didn't. This was quite a long time ago, so I didn't really remember him.

So he would have been the one who made the request to Sony about the song. So he just out of courtesy to me, he sent me a cold email one day saying, I thought you should know about this. We're pretty excited. And he said that Jason really, um, the song really meant a lot to him lyrically. And so yeah, it just came out of nowhere. And I mean, I think I was the one that told my manager about it because he hadn't heard because I don't think that it had been announced yet.

So and that's a first. Generally I'm the last to know. Exciting times in the for Ron Sexmouth here. Now how did it feel feel Stevie Nicks? I feel like we've talked a lot about the football guy. Okay, but Stevie Nicks is on this song singing this duet. Like, how does it feel to have Stevie Nicks go to number one with one of the songs you wrote? right? You know, she knows she's amazing. I mean, I'm a huge fan of Fleetwood Mac and a really big, I was really big fan of Kristi McVie to especially as love to love her voice. But I mean, you know, it's amazing that to be kind of like I haven't met Stevie, but to, to now have a kind of an

affiliation with her in a roundabout way. It's it's amazing. I mean, I know it's funny, because before I found out about this, I just seen her on Saturday Night Live doing a song, brand new song that was really powerful. It's just an honor, you know, because she is she's like no slouch in the songwriting department and poetry and all that. to have her voice singing my lyrics is just hugely rewarding. So, but yeah, I mean, there's, we're going to lose so many of those, I don't mean Stevie, but all these great bands that we grew up with, they're, you know, it's scary to think in 10 or so years, we may lose some.

And so it's just nice to get in a bit of that, or to rub elbows in a way with these people. Maybe this Christmas will mean something more. Maybe this year, love will appear deeper than ever before. And maybe forgiveness will ask us to call Someone we love, someone we've lost For reasons we can't quite recall Maybe this Christmas Maybe there'll be an open door Maybe the stars that shone before Will shine once more Maybe there'll be an open door Maybe the stars that shone before Will shine once more

Maybe this Christmas we'll find us at last In heavenly peace, grateful at least Earlier I alluded to the fact that the name Ron Sexsmith comes up early and often on my podcast Toronto Miked. There was a recent visit from Tim Bovaconti. Were your ears burning during my chat with Tim Bovaconti? Yeah, I listened to a bit of it. Yeah, I mean, Tim, we go back a long ways. We haven't, I mean, Burton kind of stole them from me.

We haven't really played a long time in a band, but yeah, I mean, you know, I was happy that he was on your show. And did he say nice things about me? Are you kidding me? You came off like your saintly because he met you on a bus and he invited you to sing at his girlfriend's

birthday party and you had one question, will there be cake? Well, obviously I'm a cake lover, you know, just yeah, I mean, well, it's funny. I remember that very well, but he's sort of confusing two different stories because I did meet him originally on the bus and you know when I was I was still I think I was still a courier and he was doing whatever he was doing But you know when another musician sees a musician with a guitar on his back, it's almost like two dogs You know, they want to sniff each other so we could see each other we kept seeing each other on the bus and

And then it's I remember at a certain point He asked me if I would open for his band, which was they were called the love cows. So I went and did that. And this was way before I had a record deal or anything. But then years and years later, like 2000 or something, I was walking on Danforth and he came by me on his bicycle. And that's when he'd asked me.

And it was interesting because I went to this party, I didn't really know him. And there was another fellow named Maury LaFoy there, amazing bass player, played with, you know, Jan and Colin James, all these people. So I get to this party and they'd learned my song. And so Tim and Maury backed me up. And at the end of this, we did a few songs. And at the end I said, you know,

I'm just about to go on tour. Would you guys wanna be my band? And so they were my band end I said, you know, I'm just about to go on tour. Would you guys want to be my band? And so they were my band for the next, uh, you know, while Tim was in my band right up from 2001 till 2013, you know, I had different bass players because they all kept exploding, you know, but then, yeah, so, but Tim, Tim, uh, you know, we're both big music lovers, obviously. And so many of my favorite moments with Tim on the road, we're on the tour bus listening to music and DJing and

have you heard this? Have you heard that? And he's just a really great guy and he's self-made, you know, he's did it all on his own. Can you hear a Guess Who song the same way ever again? Well, yeah, I mean, I've seen Tim with Burton a number of times and with Randy and Burton and you got to hand

hand it to those guys. I mean, so many great songs and it's just and it's it's it's you know, for me to see him up there with those guys, it makes perfect sense because you know, it's in his DNA, all that music and and I can't think of anyone more sort of deserving of that.

You know, some beautiful. I got a great question that came in from Jim Romanco. He says, Hi, Ron, I noticed that you have returned to eclectic UK indie record label cooking vinyl for your two most recent albums. How did this come about? Also nice photo on their website. Where was it taken? Oh, I don't know. I haven't been to the website. I wonder what photo that is. You have it there? No, I don't. I'll go have a look. But yeah, I mean the cooking vine, I was on their label for my album Blue Boy back in 2001. And then, you know, somehow we went, we bounced around on a few different labels

Between then and now and so when I came out which I might have been last rider hermitage Where we we found that they were all still there and a lot of the same people that I worked with back 2001 we're still there, so it was really nice to reconnect with them and I feel like I have a home and I feel like I have a home. I feel like I have a real, it feels secure. Like they survived the whole down slide of the music industry and they're still, you know what I mean, they're still a thing. And they seem like having me on their label.

So I hope I can, I don't know how many more records I'm going to do, but I hope that they'll be my peeps, you know? Well, you're just warming up. You only hit number one last month. more records I'm going to do but I hope that that they'll be my my peeps you know. Well you're just warming up you only hit number one last month so you're just cooking you're starting to cook you're cooking vinyl you're starting to cook with gas here Ron so. Wow well I'll take your word for it thanks. I'm going to close with a poem and then when I finish this poem you're going to tell me if you can if you know what poet composed this poem, you're ready?

There once was a site named Twitter with a pretty with a pretty blue bird and all was well till Musk threw it in the shitter. He dragged it all the way to hell with lies and misinformation and soon it all went wrong. So now we're here on blue sky where blue birds all belong. Who's that Shakespeare? It's a you're close. So I told the Nessie. Yeah, no, I've been sort of weaning myself off Twitter.

I'm hoping to leave Twitter next year because it's become a very toxic place. And this blue sky, which is very much it's actually started by the guy who started Twitter originally. this blue sky which is very much it's actually started by the guy who started twitter originally and so i've just been sort of investigating and it seems like a much nicer place and uh yeah so so that was my ode to to blue sky well let me say i'm glad to see you on blue sky because i still like i go into for two reasons i'll pop into twitter only once or twice a day i used to be on twitter all the time i used to love it so much but now i i into Twitter only once or twice a day. I used to be on Twitter all the time. I used to love it so much. But now I pop in once or twice a day to see I check notifications because sometimes people ask me questions there. And then I

will literally copy and paste down like a promotion. Like I'll be like, there's a new Christmas spectacular with Ron sex myth on Toronto Mike, I'll link to it So it's like I'll promo and I'll check notifications, but I hate it there now I am thoroughly enjoying the experience engaging with real people like you and Jim Romanco on blue skies So I'm glad you're there Yeah, and like and it's early days for me, but I'm really enjoying how less stressful it is And I still like I say I'm gonna stay with Twitter probably until January or something, and then completely get off it.

But yeah, but I've noticed that everyone's just totally abandoning shit over Twitter and coming to Blue Sky. And because I've noticed that my amount of followers is dwindling, you know, because people keep deleting their accounts, you know? But it's been good, you know, I built a, I worked really hard for since 2012 to build a following there. And I've tried to make it a fun place and a kind place and I have

stupid jokes and all that stuff. And, uh, you know, so blue sky, I was happy when I went to check it out. I thought, oh, it's just like, it's just like Twitter, you know, I mean, it's the way it's set up and everything. So it's very easy to navigate. And, uh, but yeah, I mean, it's the way it's set up and everything. So it's very easy to navigate. And, uh, but yeah, I'm going to make the leap very soon. I think. Well, we appreciate your, uh, your punny business on, uh, blue sky.

We got to get Huxley workman over there so you guys can do it out with your battling puns, but Merry Christmas. Oh, maybe, you know, maybe he, no, maybe I'm speaking at a school. Maybe I got to check in there and see maybe I missed my, uh, my friend Huxley Workman. I'm going to check it out, but I will say this to you, Ron Seck Smith in this order. Congratulations on your number one single, maybe this Christmas and hopefully there's more success for you in 2025. Yes. Thank you. Thank you for this. I love catching up with you. I do think the next

time we talk, it's got to be in person. You're the only person who got two Zooms. I've been made, I made Ralph Ben-Murgy drive all the way from Hamilton just late last month. So next time in person. Yeah, because I'd miss not having that photo with you. Everyone, there's a photo of you in the same location with whoever your guest is. Yeah, so we'll do that. The Toronto tree. Absolutely. I miss it too. And then last but not least, Merry Christmas to you and yours. Thanks for being Ron Sexman. Thanks, Mike. Thanks for having me on your show for a second time and hopefully we'll do it a third time. All right. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

And that brings us to the end of our 16,603rd show. You can follow me on Blue Sky. I'm at torontomike.com. Go to torontomike.com for all your Toronto Mike needs. Much love to all who made this Christmas spectacular with Ron Sexsmith possible. That's Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, RecycleMyElectronics.ca, Minaris, and Ridley Funeral Home. See you tomorrow when I drop episode 1604 with Retro Ontario.

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