the swan silvertones, “oh mary don’t you weep for me”
from: presenting the swan silvertones, 1947
I know of no more inspirational gospel group than the Swan Silvertones. They formed in Knoxville TN, beginning as a jubilee-style gospel group and transitioning to a more driving ”hard gospel" sound with guitar and drums. Leading the group was Claude Jeter, whose silken tenor voice was complemented by a fervent yet soulful falsetto. Although they appeared at the Newport Folk Festival in 1966 and were inducted into the Vocal Group and International Gospel Music Halls of Fame they resisted crossing over to the more lucrative secular soul side as had Sam Cook, Solomon Burke, and Aretha. Paul Simon was inspired by a line in “May Don’t You Weep” to write “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” giving Jeter a $1000 check in person as thanks.
-Maury Martin-