Steal Away - Reverend Pearly Brown

[panaderete]

Hello I'm Spanish, he says "steal away to Jesus" or what does he say? Thanks in advance.

[chronDiggity]

it was rare for a slave to live past 50.

[Armadillarodeo]

I was a kid in the 50's when I first saw Pearly Brown walking and playing on the streets of Macon and remember the cup attached to the head stock of his guitar/dobro. My mother would make me sit on the benchs in the 3rd street park while she shopped. Once out of sight I followed Pearly all around.listening to him play. He inspired me and I've been playing 47 years now. He was great.

[Tondraea37]

A wonderful song type in Marie Guillian Steal away by Mahalia Jackson enjoy

[MyMoppet52]

Wonderful, wonderful song and dialog. He has the most beautiful and strong voice. Thank you for this history and music!

[MuddyLeePerkins]

Rev Pearly Brown CD available at arhoolie web site -- studio recordings plus a radio broadcast done in Berkeley CA - great CD.

[CosmicTraveler]

I used to see him walk the streets in Macon playing & singing. I had never heard anything like that before & it actually scared me since I was a small kid. God Bless Rev. Pearly Brown. His reward is in Heaven.

[Protool11]

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

[benkit49]

I can remember Reverend Brown singing down on Cherry St. in Macon when I was a very small boy. I was so enthralled by him that my momma would have to carry me kicking and screaming to the car. Later when I became a teenager I started playing guitar. A cheap one it was but Reverend Brown was patient and showed me some chords. He was a big influence in my life and I know that he is up yonder on those golden streets singing. He was a great human being.

[saxonfield]

Very emotional- awesome song - Respect Sir.

[gonigtoplaywithyall]

I am with the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Show and we are inducting Rev Pearly Brown into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on Sept 11th, 2010. Finally!

We are desperately trying to track down a family member or members. If anyone has any information on how to contact any family, please contact me as soon as possible.

THANK YOU!

[MrWcp3]

@gonigtoplaywithyall

I just spoke with the grandson of the Rev. Pearly Brown. I have forwarded the Ga. Music Hall of Fame tel. # to him. Growing up in Macon I was greatly influenced by his gospel blues and made me want to pick up the guitar at an early age. I used to love to get up early Sunday mornings just to listen to the "Silver Bells" on TV. Rev. Brown just seemed to love to play the spiritual blues and they just rang to my soul.

[lacrima4reichel]

It makes me cry... god bless Rev. Pearly Brown

[spidermonkey1979]

Just another great talent from Abbeville, GA! Do it Rev.!

[xoximilk21]

why such long comments? lolz

[manib4144]

I used to see the Rev walking up and down Cherry Street and singing when I was a young girl in Macon, GA in the early 1960's. He had a little tin cup attached to the end of his guitar and a hand written sign that said something like "I am a blind preacher, Rev. Pearly Brown"...He was always dressed in a dress shirt and sometimes a suit. His voice was so soulful, as you hear here.

[ganeco]

I met Rev Pearly Brown in Macon, GA back in 1972 when I was a 15-yrs old. He was sitting  on a bench down on Cotton Ave playing gospel blues on his Dobro. I went over and listened to him play for a while. He showed me some of his bottleneck slide licks. He was a very kind and gentle man that didn't seem to mind spending a few minutes "teaching" a punk "white boy" like me a little bit about the blues. I cherish the memory of meeting him. "The Lord Loves a Cheerful Giver" Amen and Amen....

[pots5jak]

Beautiful. Thunder and lightning as voice of God is a belief that came from Africa - as did most of what we love in the old spirituals - traditional sensibilities of balance, harmony, and ritual connection to the ancestors. "Steal Away " was sung in the fields to signal a secret religious meeting - a ring shout - late that night. The Fisk Jubilee Singers, who funded construction of Nashville's Fisk University in the 1870's, sang "Steal Away" for Queen Victoria - who had an African ancestor.

[Tondraea37]

@pots5jak Type in Mahalia Jackson by Marie Guillian. Its so good when people try

to keep songs with meaning alive. My mother just loves Mahalia.

[stevie586]

Amazing, this was my great uncle. We just burried my aunt (his wife & my grandfather's sister) a few years ago, and one of his daughters (my cousin) just one week ago. It's amazing, just about EVERYONE in my family is an amazing singer, and although I knew of Uncle Pearly, I never really knew the magnitude of his talent, nor how well recognized he was. I'm a singer in DC and it was great to go back and visit his grave, right up the street from their home on Ashby Street.

[CillaWise6]

Go Granddaddy!

Rev Pearly Brown is my grandfather. He was and will always be a bright spirit in my heart. I cherish the memories of him and my grandmother Christine coming to Chicago and as a child he would always sit me on his lap and sing.

[stevie586]

Wow, so, clearly, you are one of my cousins! LOL, I am one from DC who went down for Lilly Pearl's funeral. Whose daughter are you? Trying to figure out if we've spoken.

[mbrown2344]

Rev. Pearly Brown was a fixture in many midle ga. towns when I was young. My father remembers him on the streets of Montezuma, Ga. during World War II

[Revolver1701]

I was born in Americus Georgia in 1958. Several times I saw Reverend Pearly Brown walking the street and singing gospel songs. He walked very slowly. he knew the length of the block and went back and fourth. he had a vienna sausage can fixed to his guitar for donations. If you put in a coin he would say "Thank you and May God Bless You." Quite a fellow.

[onichat]

From what I've read about the Reverend, he did seem like 'quite a fellow'. Thank you for sharing what you can remember of the him!

[berlynn2]

my moms from americus i always wanted her to show me where she grew up but i never got the chance to.

[stevie586]

Believe me, you are not missing very much ;)  lol

[Tondraea37]

@Revolver1701 My mother is a huge fan of Mahalia. she was inspired by her. Type Mahalia Jackson by Marie Guillian comment and tell me what u think. It so good that fans are keeping her songs alive.

[jos431]

Could not watch the whole video lost it at about 54 sec. Rev Pearly Brown is one of my favourite Gospel Singer could you reload it, and do you have any footage of him. Cheers

Jos

[onichat]

I'm not sure where your problem lies jos. I was able to watch this whole video at both my home and work. Of course, I have cable internet at both places, so maybe I had an advantage? Either way, I don't think it needs reloading....maybe there is trouble at your end? Glad your interested in the video and the Reverend. Unfortunately, I don't have footage of him or I would have included it for sure.