From a symphony chorus to a Water Taxi, OKC singer Rod Porter croons through the holidays

Rod Porter admits he hasn't always been the merriest of guys at Christmastime.

But the songs of the season — especially a just-right cover of a well-worn standard — help him get into the celebratory spirit.

"I worked retail for some time, so there was a point where I was not necessarily looking forward to the holidays," Porter said with a chuckle. "But since I've left that world — and as I've gotten older — I do tend to celebrate. ... And music has been a big part of Christmas for me because of the different artists and their different takes."

The Oklahoma City soul singer is as busy as one of Santa's elves this season, with a slew of shows on his calendar in December. He is playing multiple gigs as part of funky local favorites Shortt Dogg, including a return headlining engagement at the Opening Night New Year's Eve celebration at downtown OKC's Bicentennial Park.

Plus, he will hop back aboard the Bricktown Water Taxi for ArtAfloatOKC's "Caroling Cruises" Dec. 8, serenade lunchtime shoppers with an Arts Council OKC Art Moves set on Dec. 9 at the Midtown Holiday Pop-Up Shops and step out of the baritone section of Canterbury Voices symphony chorus to perform as a featured soloist at the annual "Canterbury Christmas" Dec. 4 at the Civic Center.

"We're doing large works for chorus and brass ... so, different repertoire, new to us, and some familiar pieces," said Canterbury Voices Artistic Director Randi Von Ellefson, who will conduct his final "Canterbury Christmas" as he prepares to retire at the end of the season.

"I think it'll have a big variety."

With big variety on his own holiday calendar, Porter chatted with The Oklahoman about his "Canterbury Christmas" plans, his favorite songs to sing under a bridge and more:

How has it been joining up with Canterbury Voices?

"I've actually been singing with them since 2019, but this will be my first time where Rod Porter gets to do a little something with them in conjunction. ... Between church choirs and show choirs and concert choirs — I went to Del City (High School), so I sang with the Del Aires there — I've always had some of that type of connection, regardless of where I'm at in life. ...  There's a different voice that you hear with Canterbury than you hear when it's just me and my band behind me. ... It's great training for me throughout the year, especially with me singing with Shortt Dogg.

"If you've seen me perform with them, you've seen the more soulful, energetic guy, and then a Rod Porter show's really more laid-back. I'm kind of an emotional — well, not kind of, I AM an emotional — performer. So, the Rod Porter shows still have some fun and soulfulness, but there's a lot more I want you to feel."

What do you hope to give people at this year's 'Canterbury Christmas?'

"It's definitely not your Handel's 'Messiah.' I grew up on Motown and the likes of Luther Vandross' Christmas (album). When doing these types of performances where we're singing in Norwegian and Russian and things, I'm learning other cultural celebrations. And with this particular show ... people get to see what Christmas sounded like to me as a kid.

"In this case, it's Brian McKnight's version of 'Christmas Time Is Here' from the Charlie Brown cartoon. ... Getting a chance to show my jazzy side is really fun ... and to get a chance to bring that to the Canterbury world is something beautiful, because if people don't know it, they're in for a beautiful surprise."

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs to get you in the spirit?

"The 'Charlie Brown Christmas' album by Vince Guaraldi, that's probably one of my favorites just to listen to — it's one of the reasons why Snoopy is my guy. ... But it's not Christmas until I hear at least these two songs: 'White Christmas' by The Drifters — it's the one that was in 'Home Alone' — and 'Silent Night' by The Temptations."

You've played ArtAfloatOKC's Showboat Concert Series before in the summer: How is to perform on those Water Taxi cruises?

"It was the first time I'd been on a Water Taxi since they opened; I think I turned 12 that year. ... At first I was kind of nervous because I wasn't sure what to expect. But when I actually got to see the actual Water Taxi and understand what it was, I was like, 'Why don't we do this more often?' We're such a city filled with musicians on every level: Why is there not music more present?"

What's your favorite part of playing the Water Taxi shows?

"My favorite part is when we get to the bridges, and the sound is more amplified ... and so I'll try to time it just right to have the right song to go along underneath. It's usually either 'Georgia' or 'Tennessee Whiskey.'"

So, do you know your under-the-bridge song for your first Water Taxi Christmas show?

"Otis Redding's 'Merry Christmas Baby': I'm so excited for that one, especially in an acoustic session."

Does all performing make you a better performer?

"Oh, most definitely, yes. I also do theater — I've done shows from 'Dream Girls' to 'The Color Purple' and 'Fences' at The Pollard Theatre — and I've learned to take different pieces of everything that I can do and to utilize them when necessary. It just makes for a fresh experience ... and I can make sure those in the audience get what they came for. If you're smiling and you sang along, or you clapped your hands or something, then that means I did my job."

You have big New Year's Eve plans with Shortt Dogg, so what do you have planned for 2023?

"I plan to release a few singles early in the spring ... and hopefully to have a nice project completed and done by this time next year. The process is a little new to me, so I'm just learning as I go. But I've just learned to take my time rather than trying to rush it. ... That way when it's released, it'll be released with love — and I will already have dealt with my insecurities about it." (laughs)

How long have you been performing with Shortt Dogg, and is it as much fun as it seems from the audience to play with them?

"I've been up front with them for five years ... and there's an energy there. Playing with older musicians, I will say it teaches me a lot, because I'm one of the younger people in that band. ... Mr. Morris (McCraven on saxophone), he's in his 80s, he's out of Memphis, he used to play with all those Stax Records musicians back in those days. Hearing the stories of him on the road, I'm just like, 'Man, a lot of people have to pay for this kind of wisdom, and I get it weekly.' And it enhances what we do on stage.

"Anybody from that era of music that can look at me and my young self — and I'm fresh at 39 — and sit there and tell me, 'Man, you got what Otis and them had,' that's one of the best compliments I've ever received. And it just makes me understand that what I'm doing is exactly what I need to be doing where I'm at — and it just helps me grow.

"So, it's more than just music. It's a way of life."

ROD PORTER DECEMBER SHOWS

With Shortt Dogg: 8 p.m. Dec. 2 at UCO Jazz Lab, 100 E Fifth, Edmond. Tickets: https://www.ucojazzlab.com.

Canterbury Voices' "Canterbury Christmas": 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at Civic Center, 201 N Walker. Tickets: https://canterburyokc.com/canterburychristmas.

ArtAfloatOKC's "Caroling Cruises": 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 on the Bricktown Water Taxi, Bricktown Canal. Tickets: https://artafloatokc.org/#events.

Free Art Moves performance: Noon Dec. 9 at Midtown Holiday Pop-Up Shops, 399 NW 10. Information: https://www.artscouncilokc.com/events.

With Shortt Dogg: 9 p.m. Dec. 16 at Remington Park, 1 Remington Place. Information: https://www.remingtonpark.com/live-music.

With Shortt Dogg: 7 p.m. at Ice Event Center, 1148 NE 36. Information: Ice Event Center & Grill on Facebook.

Opening Night New Year's Eve celebration with Shortt Dogg: 7 p.m. to midnight Dec. 31 at Bicentennial Park, 500 Couch Drive. Tickets: https://www.artscouncilokc.com/opening-night.

More information: rodportermusic.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC soul singer Rod Porter talks about all of his holiday plans