Brother Joe May Thunderbolt Of The Middle West CD

Digitally remastered by Kirk Felton (1992, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California).

Brother Joe May was the male counterpart to Mahalia Jackson, a full-voiced tenor of amazing range and power. Although he recorded prolifically for the Nashboro label for the bulk of his career, this 27-track collection brings together his earliest recordings for the Specialty label. Although many of these tracks feature him working with the Sallie Martin Singers, Sister Wynona Carr, the Pilgrim Travelers, and his daughter Annette May, the real star of the show is Brother Joe, whose voice simply soars no matter what the surroundings. ~ Cub Koda

This is part of the Specialty "Legends Of Gospel" series.

Recorded at Universal Recorders and Master Recorders, Hollywood, California, and an unknown church, Los Angeles, California between 1949 and 1955. Includes liner notes by Lee Hildebrand and Opal Nations.

Personnel: Brother Joe May (vocals); Theresa Childs (vocals, piano); Cora Martin, Kylo Turner, Fred Miller, Jesse Whitaker, James W. Alexander, Raphael Taylor, Keith Barber , Annette May, Sallie Martin, Sister Wynona Carr (vocals); Freddie Simon (tenor saxophone); Henry Woods, Kenneth Woods, Jr., Gwendolyn Cooper, Bertha Smith (piano); Ralph Watson, James Lee (organ, drums); Kenneth Morris, R. Mosley, Charles Brown (organ); Edward Hall, Albert Bartee, Jesse Sailes (drums).

Liner Note Authors: Opal Nations; Lee Hildebrand.

Recording information: Master Recorders, Hollywood, CA (09/10/1949-08/02/1955); Universal Recorders, Hollywood, CA (09/10/1949-08/02/1955).

Unknown Contributor Role: Pilgrim Travelers.

Arranger: Brother Joe May.

Personnel: Brother Joe May, Sister Wynona Carr, The Pilgrim Travelers, The Sallie Martin Singers, Annette May (vocals); Bertha Smith, Gwendolyn Cooper (piano); Theresa Childs (piano, vocals); R. Mosely, Charles Brown, Kenneth Morris (organ); Edward Hall, Jesse Sailes (drums).