Today, Nov. 12, 2024, Grahame Lesh released a new holiday EP, A California Christmas. The limited edition vinyl collection extends the musician’s partnership with the nonprofit The Nancy Langhorne Foundation; all proceeds raised through the sale of the three-track presentation will be donated to provide free colon cancer screenings to underserved individuals through the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and Eastern Virginia Medical School’s Hopes Clinic. All efforts are in memory of the late James Casey.

A California Christmas pulls in a trio of modern holiday songs originating from Tom Petty’s “Christmas All Over Again,” Norah Jones’ “Christmas Calling,” and Steven Van Zandt-penned “All Alone on Christmas” from the movie Home Alone 2. For the vinyl adaptation of the selected holiday anthems, Lesh adds guitar, bass, and vocals across the EP and is joined by fellow musical contributors Nathan Graham on drums, Damian Calcagne on keyboards, and Justin Mazer on guitar.

The EP has been limited to 500 copies to preserve its specialty. Each is hand-numbered with album art from illustrator Nate Cepis and available in standard green or a signed gold vinyl variant–with no intent to repress. It is a product of 12/23 Records, affiliated with The Nancy Langhorne Foundation, a Virginia. Brooklyn, N.Y.-based nonprofit that raises funds to finance cancer research and offer free cancer screenings.

The official press release states, “Since 2017, they’ve raised and donated over $70,000 between Eastern Virginia Medical School, Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Sloan Kettering, and The Medical College of VA through their annual benefit concert and record releases.”

Past iterations of charity EPs intended to assist in the fight against cancer include Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquin’s 2023 released ‘An Old Fashioned Christmas’ and DJ Williams’ ‘Almost Christmas.’ In addition to Lesh’s charitable holiday offering, 12/23 Records will also present a new compilation set, Xmas in VA, which captures 14 unique Old Dominion artists delivering their take on Christmas tunes. Dusty Ray Simmons and Todd Herrington of the Cris Jacobs Band, members of Butcher Brown, Kendall Street Company, and more are included.

Similar to Lesh’s set, Xmas in VA proceeds raised through the sale of the vinyl will be donated to the EVMS Hopes Clinic and the Bon Secours Richmond Every Woman’s Life Program to provide free cancer screenings for unserved folks in Hampton Roads and the Richmond, Va. region.

As a cornerstone of the fight against cancer musical initiative, Casey also contributed his own charitable set, arranged and recorded shortly after his late-stage cancer diagnosis. A Little Something For Everyone was released in November 2022 and includes four tracks, such as the NPR Staff Top 10 Pick “Christmafunk.” Also featured are adaptations of holiday staples, “Christmas Time Is Here,” “Joy To the World,” and the striking gospel hymn “His Eye Is On the Sparrow.” Proceeds from the second pressing will benefit colon cancer charities close to Casey’s heart and charitable mission. 

The aforementioned vinyl collections continue 12/23 and The Nancy Langhorne Foundation’s partnership with Casey, the distinguished saxophonist in the Trey Anastasio Band, who passed away in August 2023 after his fight against colon cancer. In memory of the artist and his honorable legacy, the aforementioned sets serve as dedications to his perseverance and unmatched approach to song.

For more information and to purchase any of the 12/23 Fighting Cancer With Christmas collections, follow this link.