Genre: gospel
Sacred Steel Archive: Katie Jackson Interview
Powerhouse singer and Baltimore, Maryland resident Katie Jackson is very highly regarded in the House of God, Keith Dominion. Known as “the Mahalia Jackson (no relation) of the House of God,” she enjoys a reputation as a vocalist whose passionate delivery never fails to move a congregation.
Read MoreSacred Steel Archive: Acorne Coffee Interview
Born in 1936, pedal-steel guitarist Acorne Coffee lived most of his life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania then retired to his wife’s home state of South Carolina, where he lived until his death in 2009. Elder Coffee influenced Chuck Campbell in his early years as a steel guitarist.
Read MoreSacred Steel Archive: Charles Flenory Interview
Detroit House of God, Keith Dominion musician Charles Flenory plays both standard guitar and steel guitar. He was born in 1948 in Cleveland, Ohio where his father served as an elder in the Church of the Living God, Jewell Dominion.
Read MoreSacred Steel Archive: Sonny Treadway Interview
Sonny Treadway was born and raised in Michigan and grew up playing steel guitar with Bishop Ron Hall and Calvin Cooke under the guidance of “Uncle” Felton Williams. As a young man, he traveled throughout much of the United States with Church of the Living God Chief Overseer Bishop Mattie Jewell to play for worship services, assemblies and revivals, usually accompanying steel guitarist Bishop Lorenzo Harrison on standard (fretted) guitar.
Read MoreRobert Stone Sacred Steel Archive
The Arhoolie Foundation’s Robert Stone Sacred Steel Archive consists of over 150 recorded interviews and over 6,510 photographic negatives documenting the Sacred Steel gospel music tradition....
Read MoreSacred Steel Archive: Calvin Cooke Interview
Calvin Cooke lived most of his life in Detroit and is now retired to the greater Atlanta area. As his family first belonged to the Church of the Living God and later joined the House of God, he immersed himself in the steel guitar musical traditions of both denominations.
Read MoreSacred Steel Archive: Glenn Lee Interview
A highly influential steel guitarist in Florida, Glenn Lee introduced pedal-steel guitar to the House of God churches of his home state. Eclectic in his musical tastes, he incorporated elements of country music, blues, rock, jazz, funk and other genres into the music he played at the Perrine House of God, about fifteen miles south of Miami, where his father served as pastor.
Read MoreSacred Steel Archive: Ted Beard Interview
In about 1933-34, Church of the Living God Chief Overseer Bishop Mattie Lu Jewell brought Ted Beard’s father, Maurice Beard, Sr., from Beaver Dam, Kentucky to play for worship services in Detroit, Michigan. Elder Ted Beard, Bishop Ron Hall, Calvin Cooke and Sonny Treadway grew up together in Detroit.
Read MoreSacred Steel Archive: Robert Randolph Interview
When I first photographed Robert Randolph at the House of God headquarters church in Nashville, he was a budding steel guitarist from New Jersey whose extended family included a number of ministers and professional musicians.
Read MoreSacred Steel Archive: Robert Stone Biography
The Robert Stone Archive: Robert Stone Biography Bob Stone is an independent folklorist and photographer based in Gainesville, Florida. During his tenure with the Florida Folklife...
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