title: The Reverend Mr. Black
text: # The Reverend Mr. Black
  
  "The Reverend Mr. Black" (also, "The Lonesome Valley") is a 1963 song by Billy Edd Wheeler, Mike Stoller, and Jerry Leiber.
  
  ## Background
  
  The chorus came from the 1931 folk song, "The Lonesome Valley," recorded by the Carter Family.
  
  ## Kingston Trio recording
  
  * "The Reverend Mr. Black" was recorded and released by The Kingston Trio in 1963 for their album The Kingston Trio No. 16 and became a top-ten hit for them on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number eight. On the Hot R&B Singles chart, it went to number fifteen.
  
  ## Other recordings
  
  * In 1963, Bill Anderson included it on Still.
  * Johnny Cash covered the song in 1981 for his album The Baron.
  * The Fairfield Four recorded a version for the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?
  