There was new music news yesterday. Sarah Brown shared details of her debut solo album. The album is a tribute to the music of the wonderful and inspirational Mahalia Jackson.
The first single off Sarah’s album, I’m On My Way, will be released on the same day as Themes For Great Cities, January 27th. The date is significant to Mahalia, as it is the 50th anniversary of her death.
The album is set to be released later in 2022 and will be titled “Sarah Brown Sings Mahalia Jackson”. When talking about the song on her social media, Sarah said as follows…
The seed that grew ‘I’m On My Way’ and then the album was planted back some 20 plus years ago, when I was singing backing vocals on the Roxy Music reunion tour.
Waiting for soundcheck, I stood on the stage as Roxys’ pianist Colin Good was warming up on an old blues tune by Ma Rainey. And as he played I was immediately transported back to when I was eight and in church on a Sunday and these matriarchal figures, these big black mamas dressed like Audrey Hepburn, were bellowing out their Mahalia Jackson hymns, they were crying out from their very souls and as I listened to Colin I was crying too, lost in the music and I vowed I’d pay my own homage to Mahalia one day…..
I am really looking forward to hearing this music from Sarah. You can keep up-to-date with Sarah by following her on social media platforms Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Photo of Sarah by Andrew Cotterill.