Rev. Pearly Brown

Reverend Pearly Brown (1915-1986) was an Americus-based gospel musician who left an indelible mark on the Georgia soundscape. Despite a precarious childhood, Brown found refuge with his maternal grandparents in Americus, Georgia, who introduced him to gospel music. While attending the Georgia Academy for the Blind in Macon, he purchased a $7 guitar and began listening to and studying the work of other street musicians. Brown eventually returned to Americus and began performing on the streets and sidewalk of Cherry Street, which became his pulpit. Over the years Reverend Brown expanded his range, first taking a weekly trip by Trailways Bus to play in the streets of Macon. Over time he traveled to cities such as Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa, where legend has it, he was once arrested and forced to play a song to save his life. His experiences in Tampa inspired his most famous song, “It’s a Mean Old World to Try to Live In.” In later years he played the legendary Newport Folk Festival, The Southern Folk Festival Tour, and Carnegie Hall among other venues. He was one of the first African-American performers to play on The Grand Ole Opry.

https://www.folkstreams.net/films/it-s-a-mean-old-world