While many people may know that the likes of Sam Cooke and Lou Rawls started their careers in gospel before “moving on” into American pop and soul, the fact that Brother Joe May never gave into that temptation may have kept him from being recognized today as one of the most important male singers of that genre. He wasn’t nicknamed “The Thunderbolt Of The Middle West” for nothing, as his voice and delivery boomed like lightening, this 4 cd, 84 song collection testifies.
Included here are some of his most important songs, particularly the riveting and inspiring “Search Me Lord” , “ Do You Know Him?” and “Hush, Somebody’s Calling My Name.” He’s able to testify with the best, as shown on ‘My Mother Prayed For Me” and he makes the earth move on “Wake Me, Shake Me”. There are also some heaven made teamings between him and Sister Wynona Carr on “I See Jesus” and “What Do You Know About Jesus”. With the Pilgrim Travelers, he leads and harmonizes on “Lead Me! Guide Me” and “J esus Knows” and is found in both the studio and in concert with the Sallie Martin Singers on “Oh Yes, He Set Me Free” and a rolling in the aisles “How I Got Over”.
Besides singles, May recorded a pair of albums, as in 1960s The Master’s On Our Side, represented here on tunes like “Please Lord Have Mercy” and 62’s Walk On and Talk On featuring “I Found The Light” and “Leaning On Him”. There’s heat in this heart!