Brother Joe May

• Genre: Folk/Traditional Gospel
• Hometown: Macon

About

Brother Joe May has often been called the male version of Mahalia Jackson for his roof-raising delivery and bluesy phrasing. Gospel's premier male soloist, May has been touring the Deep South since the 1950s and is a household name in Gospel circles. He possesses a rich voice with an astounding range as well as microphone-distorting, superhuman power. With roots in mentor Willie Mae Ford Smith's old-time style, you can expect to hear Gospel similar to hers: the style and phrasing share much with early blues, and the backing is provided by a rousing, piano-led choir.

- Mike McGuirk