Once Halloween passes, Christmas is thrown in our faces by almost every major corporation looking to cash in before the year ends. When the clock strikes midnight on November 1, Mariah Carey takes over as the unofficial "Queen of Christmas"—a title she's claimed thanks to "All I Want for Christmas" printing money for the past 30 years. But Christmas music isn't just an easy money grab: a lot of great R&B music was made in honor of the holiday and everything around it. If you want pure joy, there's the Jackson 5's "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas." Add "My Gift to You" to the list of brilliant collaborations between Alexander O'Neal, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis. Want to hear the Temptations rework one of the best-known Christmas carols? There's their version of "Silent Night," guided by Dennis Edwards. Any discussion of Christmas-themed R&B music would be incomplete without acknowledging the melancholy. As far as sad love songs go, the Emotions' "What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas?" is as good as they come. And when's the last time you paid attention to the lyrics of Stevie's "Someday at Christmas"? Tickets are $15 and $20 at the door. Get them ASAP, so we can close out the year together by celebrating the best holiday R&B songs and the range of emotions that come with them. See everyone on Sunday, December 8. \*\*\* The R&B Club is a cultural gathering founded in 2018 that discusses the influence of R&B music. In other words, think of it as a musical book club-style meetup. Follow us on social media at @therandbclubdc for more information. Presented by Songbyrd LLC dba Songbyrd Music House. All ages