Let me introduce...Earl
the Pearl
Gospel Music has been blessed with personalities who are examples of
what hard work and dedication can accomplish as well as what God's healing power
can do when all hope is seemingly gone. Earl Brewer is such a person.
Earl
began his career professionally in 1948, playing piano and singing tenor for The Carolinians.
He attended the Stamps-Baxter School of Music in 1950-51. There he was tutored about piano playing by "Tiny" Jack
Taylor. In addition to Taylor, Earl lists other legends such as Marshall, Wally Varner,
Hovie Lister, Henry Slaughter, and Livy Freeman as his top influences in piano playing.
After playing with The Carolinians, he then joined
the Gethsemane Quartet. Later, upon following God's plan for him, he joined the
Harvesters Quartet as Pianist, and traveled for thirty-six years with them.
Earl
estimates that he has been on approximately 100 recordings, including three piano solo
audiocassettes. His most noted instrumentals include "Keep On The Firing Line," "Jesus Hold
My Hand," "Goodbye World Goodbye," "Going Home,"
"Getting Ready To Leave This World," and a song he wrote, "God Gives
Me Strength."
During a Cathedrals' concert at the
Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC, pianist Roger Bennet called Earl,
who was in the audience, to the stage to play an instrumental. Needless to say, Earl brought the
house down with his piano wizardry. He received a long standing ovation.
Two
of his most cherished moments include sharing the stage with good friends Anthony Burger
and Roger Bennet at NQC's Pianorama and receiving "A Living Legend Award" at the 1998 Grand Ole Gospel Reunion.
Earl also had the honorable distinction of playing for the US Senators and Congressmen
in Washington, DC.
At age seventy-four, Earl is a busy man,
but he wouldn't want it any other way. He is continually following his own mission
of spreading the good tidings of Jesus Christ through his music.
"For me there is only one right way, and that way is to follow God: to study Him, to pursue
Him, and to share with others what great things He can do. Now when I accomplish these,
it's a special blessing," Earl says.