Brother John Sellers

For persons of a similar name, see John Sellers (disambiguation).

Brother John Sellers (May 27, 1924, Clarksdale, Mississippi, United States – March 27, 1999, Manhattan) was an American gospel and folk singer.[1]

Sellers played in gospel tent shows while young. He was discovered by Mahalia Jackson, who brought him to Chicago in the 1930s to perform with her. He subsequently toured with Jackson in the 1940s.[1] In the 1950s, he began playing secular music, and recorded his first album in 1954 for Vanguard Records.[1] While on tour in Europe he recorded with Big Bill Broonzy.[1]

Later in the 1950s, Sellers relocated to New York City, where he became active on the folk revival scene of Greenwich Village. He started a longtime partnership with Alvin Ailey, working with him as a musician on dance performances such as "Revelations" and "Blues Suite".[1] Sellers was involved in the Broadway production of Tambourines to Glory by Langston Hughes, and performed at appearances by Studs Terkel.[2] He also played on the Ella Jenkins record A Long Time to Freedom.[3]

Sellers died in Manhattan, New York, in March 1999, at the age of 74.[4]

  1. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 385. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
  2. ^ Dunning, Jennifer (11 April 1999). "Brother John Sellers, 74, Blues Singer, Dies". The New York Times. p. 38.
  3. ^ Kim, Sojin. "Masters of Tradition - Virtuosic Women: NEA National Heritage Fellows on Smithsonian Folkways". Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  4. ^ Jennifer Dunning (April 11, 1999). "Brother John Sellers, 74, Blues Singer, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved October 27, 2019. (subscription required)