THE ISAACS ARE ROAD TRIPPING TO BROOKLYN

We have heard of Robin Roberts’ plight with cancer and have listened to Martina McBride singing “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” dedicated to Roberts and all cancer survivors.  Two people in the video are Lily Isaacs and her daughter, Rebecca (Sonya was unable to attend).  It is actually Sonya who wrote the song with her mother in mind.  Lily was 38 when the disease struck.  She is now 68 and going strong.

Lily (formerly, Fishman) is the matriarch of the group, The Isaacs, a most perfect harmonious sounding and talented family.  Aside from Rebecca and Sonya, there is her son Ben on bass, who loves to do the production end as they tour much of the country via their own bus. 

Lily, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, grew up in the Bronx.  I have known her since High School and expected her to be performing on Broadway.  We lost contact after our first year attending Queens College.  Years past and discovered that her and her family were singing Blue Grass Gospel.  Major shocker for me. 

Lily recently wrote an autobiography, “You Don’t Cry Out Loud” in which, although being Jewish, she tells about her accepting Jesus as the Messiah.  The book first speaks of her parents’ Holocaust experience, younger years in the Bronx, and friends.  Lily’s career opened up as she recorded an album with her friend, Marie (It was called, Lily and Marie).  Fast forward to her marriage to Joe Isaacs, a Blue Grass singer, having children and their born talent for singing and playing string instruments. 

The Isaacs later met up with the Gaithers, a well-known Gospel group.  Concerts with them and on their own.  Sonya producing some of her own hits and getting awards.  Now, all of Lily’s offspring are married with children. This leads to the present as the twangy banjo sound is no longer the genre.  Lily said that they are now considered to be New American retaining the same heavenly inspiration. 

The Isaacs latest of a few dozen CDs is called, “The Living Years”, the opening number and perfect for what is happening in the universe. Sonya, her husband Jimmy Yeary, and Rebecca gives us a newbie song called, “I Wanna Be There” that focuses on two people, Gorden Mote and Andrea “Odie” Boggs and seeing them in heaven.  Lily is the feature singer in “Shalom, My Home”, referring to Israel written by her daughters. For a bit of a lighter tone, there is the old time song, Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Postitive.

One of the songs from another CD that I enjoy that features Lily is called, “Let’s Make It Yours and Mine”.   As for the trip to Brooklyn, The Isaacs will be performing on Sunday, July 5 at Brooklyn Tabernacle at 17 Smith Street.  The concert is free of charge and begins at 3 p.m.  Expect some book and CD signing, so bring gelt for that!  Check out www.theisaacs.com