Rise Up Shepherd and Follow (1943) (Traditional)

Rise Up Shepherd and Follow is an Afro-American traditional song. The song was not that famous as a Christmas song, but that can change because Nick Lowe and Mary J. Blige recorded it this year. Nick Lowe on his Christmas album. "Quality Street (A Seasonal Selection For all the Family)" and Mary Blige recorded it together with Nas for the Soundtrack of the Motion Picture "Black Nativity". The film will land in theaters on November 27.

From the site: Hymns and Carols of Christmas:
A Christmas Plantation Song, said to have been first published in Slave Songs of the United States, edited by William Francis Allen, Charles Pickard Ware, and Lucy McKim Garrison in 1867 and also printed in Religious Folk Songs of the Negro as sung on the Plantations, edited by Thomas P. Fenner, Virginia, 1909.  The songs in this collection were collected during the American Civil War from slaves in Georgia and South Carolina.  It could be called an American shepherd carol, resembling a European shepherd carol, with the principal singer giving out the line and the chorus repeating the refrain (a 'question-and-answer' carol).
The American soprano Dorothy Maynor popularized this and other African-American spirituals, and the Harlem School of Music in New York City. She also helped familiarize Americans with several other Negro spirituals about the birth of Jesus.

I searced after older recordings. R. Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943) an African American Composer, Pianist & Choral Director played the song in 1927 and 1932 at the Hampton Institute but i didn't find recordings. Sometimes he is mentioned as writer/cowriter of the song. But i think he arranged the song.
Dorothy Maynor recorded the song in 1943 on RCA Victor. It's the oldest recording i could find.

The song is on this album:

You can listen to it here:

The recording of the Choir "Voices Of Walter Schumann" you can find on this album.

These other  recordings i found.

01 - Voices of Walter Schumann - Rise Up Shepherd and Foller - 1955

02 - The Berkshire Bell Ringers - Rise Up Shepherds and Foller - 1956

03 - Odetta - Rise Up Shepherd and Follow - 1960

04 - The Highwaymen - Rise Up Shepherd - 1961

05 - The Ray Charles Singers - Rise Up, Shepherds, An' Foller - 1963

07 - Pete Seeger - Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow - 1967

08 - David Frost & Billy Taylor - Rise Up Shepherd - 1970

09 - The Blue Jackets Choir From the Great Lakes Training Center - Rise Up Shepherd - 1973

10 - Harry Simeone Chorale - Conventry CarolRise Up ShepherdsGod Rest Ye Merry GentlemenO'  - 1978

11 - The Cambridge Singers and Orchestra, John Rutter - Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow - 1981

12 - Kathleen Battle - Rise Up, Shepherd - 1986

13 - Peggy, Mike & Penny Seeger - Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow - 1989

14 - Thomas Young, Vanessa Ayers, Robert Mosely - Rise Up, Shepherd - 1990

15 - David Huntsinger - Rise Up, Shepherd, and FollowChildren, Go Where I Send Thee - 1994

16 - Denyce Graves - Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow - 1998

17 - Neal & Leandra - Rise Up, Shepherd - 1999

18 - Kirk Whalum - Rise Up Shepherd and Follow - 2001

19 - Our Daily Bread - Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow - 2003

20 - Vanessa Williams - Rise Up Shepherd and Follow - 2004

21 - Robin Williams & Linda - Rise Up Shepherds and Follow - 2005                                                                                                                           

22 - Jersey Boys - O Holy Night-Rise Up Shepherd - 2011

23 - Mary J. Blige - Rise Up Shepherd and Follow feat. Nas - 2013

       24 - Nick Lowe - Rise Up Shepherd - 2013

Listen to some 

On Spotify Alan Mills 1957 in Christmas Music from Many Lands

And i found this one on Deezer from Anita Kerr Singers. Recording is from july 29 1959