Friday 10 October 2008

The McCravy Brothers {1925 - 1935}

[ Graeme and I learned the two McCravy Brothers songs below while we were at Carrowdore Mission Hall Sunday School during the 1970s and 1980s. These were on an old 78 that belonged to our Aunt Rhoda. I can remember performing these at the Christmas "Social" and prizegiving ]

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THE McCRAVY BROTHERS - Frank and James McCravy - were from Laurens, South Carolina. Their father was the local sheriff. It had also been the home of President Andrew Johnson, 17th President of the USA and one of the many Presidents of Ulster-Scots descent.

They began singing shortly after Jim graduated from Furman University - Frank also served for two years in the General Assembly of South Carolina. In their 1933 book "Album of Fireside Songs" it says "...they offer sentimental modern spirituals and semi-religious songs. They sing no 'Hot' tunes or 'Low-Down stuff'...".

• First recording February 1925 for Okeh Records (6 tracks, the first of which was One of God's Days)
• Recorded hundreds of tracks, often under pseudonyms such as the Lonesome Pine Twins, Austin Brothers, Al & Joe Blackburn, Cox & Campbell and The Mack Brothers
• Stopped recording in 1935 (last track was My Mother's Evening Prayer, Jan 29 1935)

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DISCOGRAPHY:
Partial McCravy Brothers discography available in Country Music Records, a Discography 1921 - 1942 by Tony Russell, p 531-538

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BUY:
Old Time Harmony Singing 21 track CD from Venerable Music
Mountain Gospel 4 CD box set (includes 4 McCravy Brothers songs) from Amazon.co.uk

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WATCH/LISTEN:

The Glorious Gospel Train (October 1931 - Decca 18040):


Does this Train go to Heaven? (October 1931 - Decca 18040):