Pearly Brown
| Reverend Pearly Brown | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
August 15, 1915 Abbeville, GA |
| Died | June 28, 1986 (aged 70) Plains, GA |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Blind Pearly Brown |
| Occupation | Gospel blues musician |
| Years active | 1939–79 |
Reverend (or, Blind) Pearly Brown (August 18, 1915 – June 28, 1986) was an American singer and guitarist, known primarily as a street performer. He also played harmonica and accordion. His repertoire included gospel blues, blues, country, and what he called "slave songs" (i.e. spirituals); but always from a religious standpoint.
He was born in Abbeville, Wilcox County, Georgia, and was blind from birth. While still young, he relocated with his family to Americus, Sumter County, Georgia. A schoolteacher, recognizing his determination to succeed, asked him if he'd like to get an education. When he said yes, she arranged a place for him at the Georgia Academy for the Blind in Macon, Georgia; where he completed eight grades in six years, and learned Braille. After graduating, he was ordained as minister by the Friendship Baptist Church of Americus.
He began singing and playing on the streets of Americus in 1939, and later "from Atlanta to Thomasville". He worked with white blind musicians, and recalled their all having been run off the streets. He later concentrated his efforts on Macon, Georgia (within easy traveling distance of his home in Americus), where he was once jailed for singing on the street. Photographs and videos show him playing both six-string guitar (both conventional acoustic and resonator, often using a bottleneck) and twelve-string guitar. The 1977 documentary It's a Mean Old World captures the style of his street performance: walking slowly along the sidewalk, singing and playing, with a handwritten sign around his neck reading "I am a blind preacher. Please help me, thank you. Rev. Pearly Brown, Americus, GA". There is a collection cup attached to the neck of his guitar. Most passers-by ignore him; but one stops to put something in the cup, and to talk briefly with him.
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