7000 lights with 3600 LEDs dancing to ‘Little Drummer Boy’ by Mannheim Steamroller adorn Captain Rick’s Oasis in Gilbert Arizona

Captain Rick: The holiday light and sound show at my desert oasis in Gilbert Arizona is always an enlightening experience. My 20th presentation includes 3600 LEDs dancing to ‘Little Drummer Boy’ by Mannheim Steamroller.

Click the above photo to view my 2017 light and sound show or …
View Captain Rick’s 2017 Holiday Sound and Light Show

Presentations of previous displays follow in the YouTube Playlist

How it works …
A ‘Holiday Brilliant Spectacular Light and Sound Show’ controller provides 3 channels of signals to my trees and shrubs, each wrapped in 3 bands of red-white-blue or white-multi-white, connected with 50 extension cords. The device accepts a SD card loaded with hours of favorite holiday songs. As it projects quiet music across the yard, a device receiver analyzes the audio and programs the controller to display 3 bands of lights on the plants and trees, resulting in an awesome sound and light show of 3600 LEDs dancing to the music.

Oasis Light Show History …
My Gilbert Oasis was the first in my HOA 20 years ago to present a holiday light show and has done so every year since. 2007 marked a record with 12,000 lights, requiring two 15 amp circuits running at maximum capacity. Addition of one more string of lights would blow a circuit breaker. Three years ago I began to replace older incandescent lights with energy efficient LEDs. They consume about 1/6 the power, are many times brighter and rarely need to have a light replaced. Over half of the lights in this years show are LEDs.

Setup and takedown …
In past years it would take 20 or 30 hours to install all of the lights and cords … and about half that time to take it all down. Having done this for 20 years, I have increased efficiency. Setup and takedown now requires about half the time, including the addition of the new light-music control equipment.

Casey Kasem … a fond farewell at 82

Captain Rick: I bid a fond farewell to Casey Kasem, 82. I shall always remember his dynamic voice on the radio back in the 70’s as he counted down the top hit songs and his famous closing words “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars”.

Casey’s closing words held extra meaning for me back in the 70s. Though we live in a much more complex world today when ‘reaching for the stars’ is out of reach for most…those closing words still give us something important to think about.

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Captain Rick’s Christmas Lights Spectacular … the Holdman ‘House on Christmas Street’

Captain Rick: The Holdman Amazing Grace Christmas House on Christmas Street in Pleasant Grove, Utah presents the world’s most spectacular Christmas light display featuring 176 light channels and 45,000 multicolored lights synchronized to ‘Amazing Grace,’ ‘Music Box Dancer’ and other great musical numbers.

Captain Rick’s Christmas Lights Spectacular on YouTube: I have compiled the best of past Holdman Christmas light performances in a half hour playlist I present for your enjoyment below, via my YouTube site.

VIEWING INSTRUCTIONS: Click the image above … after you read this: This is a continuous performance that lasts about a half hour. When you click you will be transferred to Captain Rick’s YouTube site and my playlist will begin. Select your viewing quality. Most are available in 720p HD. Select the full screen icon at lower right. Turn your sound up. Then, do not touch anything, except to press ‘skip’ if you encounter an occasional ad. There is a few second blank spot at the end of ‘Music Box Dancer’. Be patient. The performance continues with a 14 minute complete show of the record 2010 Holdman Christmas Lights show and ends with a song by Judy Pancoast about the Holdman ‘House on Christmas Street’. ENJOY!

The Amazing Grace Christmas House was located in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Designed and programmed by Richard Holdman, the display started in 2006, but traffic became too much of an issue and is no longer running.  Richard has gone on to create Holdman Lighting which installs animated lighting displays around the world.

Richard Holdman: 2010 was the last year for our large display on our home. The traffic became to much along with some neighbor complaints but for the record there were many awesome neighbors that loved it and I really appreciate their support over the years.

Your appreciation is welcome: It took a bit of work to put this show together for your enjoyment. However, it was a tiny effort in comparison to the work that went into the Holdman light displays. If you enjoy it, I would be grateful to read your comment below. More so, I know the Holdmans would enjoy your comment.

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Dave Brubeck: Great Jazz Composer & Pianist … has left us at 91

Captain Rick: Dave was a great jazz composer and piano legend born December 6, 1920. I love jazz and the piano. Few people have ever mastered both as well as Dave. I am deeply saddened to learn of his passing. 

Dave lived to a grand age of 91, only one day short of 92. Perhaps enjoying jazz and the piano helps prolong life! It certainly did for Dave.

So long Dave. Thankfully, the wonderful music you created will live on forever.

Please check out Dave’s website to learn more about him and to hear some of his excellent music: http://www.davebrubeck.com/live/