The Prisonaires were an African-American blues group whose hit Just Walkin'… Read Full Bio ↴The Prisonaires were an African-American blues group whose hit Just Walkin' in the Rain was released on Sun Records in 1953 while the group was incarcerated in the Tennessee State Penitentiary in Nashville. The group was led by Johnny Bragg, who had been a penitentiary inmate since 1943 when, at the age of 17, he was convicted of six charges of rape. The Prisonaires were formed when Bragg joined up with two prison gospel singers, Ed Thurman and William Stewart (each of whom were doing 99 years for murder) and two new penitentiary arrivals, John Drue (three years for larceny) and Marcell Sanders (one-to-five for involuntary manslaughter).
History:
The group were discovered by radio producer Joe Calloway, who heard them singing while preparing a news broadcast from the prison. He arranged for the group to perform on the radio, a performance which was eventually brought to the attention of Sam Phillips of Sun Records. He arranged for the group to be transported under armed guard to Memphis to record. A few weeks later, Just Walkin' in the Rain was released and quickly sold 50,000 copies.
Their success was such that they were allowed out on day passes to tour throughout the state of Tennessee. The band became favorites of the state's governor, Frank G. Clement, and frequently performed at his mansion.
The Group's legacy was confirmed when Just Walkin' in the Rain, written by Bragg, was recorded by '50s pop legend Johnnie Ray. Ray's version was one of the best selling singles of the decade.
Deaths:
Johnny Bragg's sentence was commuted in 1959 and he continued recording after his release. He died of cancer in 2004. William Stewart died of a drug overdose in a rundown Florida motel in 1959, Marcel Sanders died in the late '60s, Ed Thurman was killed in an accident in 1973 and John Drue Jr. died of cancer in 1977.
History:
The group were discovered by radio producer Joe Calloway, who heard them singing while preparing a news broadcast from the prison. He arranged for the group to perform on the radio, a performance which was eventually brought to the attention of Sam Phillips of Sun Records. He arranged for the group to be transported under armed guard to Memphis to record. A few weeks later, Just Walkin' in the Rain was released and quickly sold 50,000 copies.
Their success was such that they were allowed out on day passes to tour throughout the state of Tennessee. The band became favorites of the state's governor, Frank G. Clement, and frequently performed at his mansion.
The Group's legacy was confirmed when Just Walkin' in the Rain, written by Bragg, was recorded by '50s pop legend Johnnie Ray. Ray's version was one of the best selling singles of the decade.
Deaths:
Johnny Bragg's sentence was commuted in 1959 and he continued recording after his release. He died of cancer in 2004. William Stewart died of a drug overdose in a rundown Florida motel in 1959, Marcel Sanders died in the late '60s, Ed Thurman was killed in an accident in 1973 and John Drue Jr. died of cancer in 1977.
Softly and Tenderly
The Prisonaires Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Softly and Tenderly' by these artists:
Acappella Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and fo…
Alan Jackson Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Anderson Bill Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and…
Anne Murray Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
B.J. Thomas Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and fo…
Bill & Gloria Gaither Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and…
Billie Jo Spears Tonight again you'll be holding another tenderly Whispering …
Billy Gaines Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Brent Cobb Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling Calling for you and fo…
Carl Perkins/Elvis Presley/Jerry Lee Lewis/Johnny Cash Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Carrie Underwood Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Cristy Lane Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and fo…
Crystal Gayle Softly and tenderly Jesus is callin' Callin' for you and for…
Cynthia Clawson Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Daniel Beck Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and fo…
Daniel Johnston Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Daniel O'Donnell Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and fo…
Dolly Parton Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Earl Perkins Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and fo…
Eddy Arnold Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and…
Elvis Presley Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Elvis Presley Carl Perkins Jerry Lee Lewis Johnny Cash Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling Calling for you and f…
Emmylou Harris Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling calling for you and…
Emmylou Harris feat. Dolly Parton & Linda Ronstadt Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
George Jones Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling calling for you and…
Glenn Kaiser Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and fo…
Hank Williams Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Heritage Singers Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling Calling for you and fo…
J.A.C. Redford Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and fo…
Jim Nabors Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling calling for you and…
Jim Reeves Now we'd like to settle things down just a bit And…
Joanne Cash Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling Calling for you and f…
Joey + Rory Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Johnny Cash Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling Calling for you and fo…
Johnny Cash Elvis Presley Jerry Lee Lewis Carl Perkins Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling Calling for you and f…
Julie and Dan Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Loretta Lynn Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling calling for you and…
Merle Haggard Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and…
Michael W. Smith Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling calling for you and…
Randy Travis Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Ray Price (Will L. Thompson) (Softly and tenderly) Softly and tenderly…
Reba McEntire Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Rebecca Lynn Howard Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling Calling for you and fo…
Sara Groves Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and fo…
Selah Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Tennessee Ernie Ford Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and f…
THE KING'S MESSENGERS QUARTET Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
The Kings Messengers Quartet If you ever needed the Lord before Oh Lord we sure…
The Million Dollar Quartet Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
The Million Dollar Quartet (Elvis Presley Carl Perkins Jerry-Lee Lewis Johnny Cash) Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and f…
Twila Paris Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
Various Artists SOFTLY AND TENDERLY Softtly and tenderly Jesus is calling C…
William Lee Golden and The Goldens Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Prisonaires:
Just Walkin In The Rain Just walking in the rain Getting soaking wet Torturing my he…
Just Walkin' in the Rain Just walking in the rain Getting soaking wet Torturing my he…
Just Walking in the Rain Just walking in the rain Getting soaking wet Torturing my he…
Just Walkin´In The Rain Just walking in the rain Getting soaking wet Torturing my he…
No More Tears The light in the window is a crack in the…
Walking in the Rain Just walking in the rain Getting soaking wet Torturing my he…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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