New Leaf Publishing Group in Green Forest, AR has announced a May 15, 2014 release for You Don’t Cry Out Loud – the Lily Isaacs Story, an autobiography.
Lily is the matriarch of the enormously popular bluegrass gospel family, The Isaacs, made up of her, son Ben, and daughters Sonya Isaacs Yeary and Rebecca Isaacs Bowman. At its founding 35 years ago, the group also included her now ex-husband Joe, who left the group following their divorce in 1998. Prominent bluegrass artists like Adam Steffey, John Bowman, Troy Engle, Thomas Wywrot, and Kevin Haynie have been members of the band over the years.
You Don’t Cry Out Loud is the story of Lily’s life, from emigrating to the US from Poland as a young girl, and growing up Jewish in a family of Holocaust survivors, through a marriage, Christian conversion, and a life on the road singing about her faith. Along the way she survived breast cancer, performed at the Grand Ole Opry, was part of the several Gaither Homecoming Concerts, and raised a family of faith-filled musical artists.
I recall meeting the Isaacs at the Old Fiddler’s Convention in Galax probably 20 years ago, and was immediately struck by their warmth and kindness, not to mention how beautifully they harmonized together.
We hope to speak with Lilly before the book is published, and share some of her life with Bluegrass Today readers.
