March 3, 2023
Hundreds of guests were treated to eclectic musical selections performed by The Isaacs. The family group performed at Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts at Pearl River Community College on Tuesday, February 28th.
The group is comprised of matriarch Lily Isaacs and her three children, Ben Isaacs, Sonya Isaacs Yeary, and Becky Isaacs Bowman. For the concert, they were joined on stage by Dobro guitarist Josh Swift, percussionist, Greg Ritchie, and Becky’s eldest son Levi Bowman on guitar and vocals.
Selections for the evening’s performance spanned several musical genres with something for pretty much everybody. Along with the eclectic selections, members of the group often engaged in good-natured humorous antics that tempered more serious moments like Lily telling an abbreviated version of her family history tied to the Holocaust.
The family expressed their gratitude that Becky could be on stage just a few weeks after taking her first steps following a head-on collision last December.
“A lot has been coming against us,” said Sonya Isaacs Yeary. “But God is faithful and always takes care of the ones that are faithful to him.”
Evya and Gatlyn Yeary, Sonya’s youngest children, came on stage during a Hebrew medley sung by Lily. They then each sang a selection for the audience showing just how talented this family is through the generations.
Sam Johnston and his wife Connie of Franklinton, Louisiana thoroughly enjoyed the concert. Connie is a graduate of the PRCC Nursing Program, and their grandson also attended The River.
“They put on a good show,” said Johnston. “They played music that reached out to the people in the audience and everything that they played had true meaning and added value to their show.”
ABOUT THE ISAACS
Known as a bluegrass Southern gospel group, The Isaacs have performed for over 50 years. They were officially inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry on September 14, 2021. In 2020, they were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. The Isaacs will be opening performers for Reba McEntire this spring.
Collectively, they have won 19 Dove Awards and had three albums receive GRAMMY nominations in the Best Roots Gospel Album category. They have performed the National Anthem at many professional sporting events and have been invited to perform on many gospel, bluegrass and country artist albums and stages.
The Isaacs formed a non-profit organization called The Isaacs Foundation that blesses the less fortunate in America. They also have a branch called the Fishman Isaacs Israel Initiative that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to bless Israel, specifically Holocaust Survivors, Israeli “Lone” Soldiers and orphans.
FUTURE BROWNSTONE EVENTS
The spring semester offers audiences several opportunities to experience PRCC student talent.
12 Angry Jurors — Mar. 30 & 31 at 7 p.m.
Broadway to Brownstone — April 13 at 7 p.m.
JazzCats & The Voices — April 20 at 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at prcc.edu/brownstone/upcoming-events.
BROWNSTONE BACKSTAGE
Brownstone Backstage is an initiative that empowers individuals to offer support for the performing arts in their community. By joining Brownstone Backstage, you help our students create the best possible performances in the area, maintain the beauty and elegance of the facility, and attract artists from all over to come and perform on the Brownstone stage.
You can join at prcc.edu/brownstone/membership/.
For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats), Instagram (PRCCWILDCATS), and Facebook (@PRCCMKTG).
Article by Laura O’Neill.
Photography by Jacob Cochran.
