Brownie McGhee (sitting at right) sings and speaks with a disarming, soulful simplicity. His eyes speak a language of languor, his lips curl into wistful grins with such ease and honesty that you want to cozy up by his feet like a labrador puppy, lapping up stories of the road and songs of the downtrodden. The songs of Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry – a musical duo for nearly their entire professional lives – are melancholy at heart but never sacrifice a sense of celebratory, resplendent joy.

Enjoy this performance of their classic tune “I Couldn’t Believe My Eyes,” from Pete Seeger’s Rainbow Quest.