Merry Christmas Baby is credited to have been written by Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore.
Morre’s The Three Blazers originally recorded the song in 1947. The group was looking for a Christmas song, according to Charles Brown, the groups singer and pianists. Baxter volunteered one of his songs, as he had throat cancer and needed the advance. Moore took a satchel of songs home that night and looked through them. Nothing struck him until he saw “Merry Christmas Blues”.
Moore thought it a good idea, but it needed some work. He wrote “Merry Christmas Baby” and presented it to Moore. It was suggested to put the celeste, a bell-piano, on it. Their version reached #3 on the charts.
The song has been recorded by other artists including Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, B.B. King, and Christian Aguilera.