Johnny Mathis - Sleigh Ride (Live) (1958) Johnny Mathis’s recording of Sleigh Ride in 1958 for his album Merry Christmas has become a defining version of this beloved holiday classic. Originally composed as an instrumental by Leroy Anderson in 1948, with lyrics added by Mitchell Parish two years later, the song paints a vivid picture of a cheerful winter outing. Mathis’s warm vocals, paired with Percy Faith and His Orchestra’s lush arrangement, elevate the piece into a joyful celebration of the