sacred steel interview Archives - The Arhoolie Foundation

Sacred Steel Archive: Ron Hall Interview

Bishop Ron Hall played a significant role in the formative years of several Detroit, Michigan steel guitarists and contributed to establishing the presence of the steel guitar at the House of God, Keith Dominion annual General Assembly in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sacred Steel Archive: Alvin Lee Interview

Alvin Lee Interviews Brothers Alvin, Glenn, Keith and Derrick were the driving force of the church band at the House of God church in Perrine, about...

Sacred Steel Archive: Aubrey Ghent Interview

Aubrey Ghent’s peers universally acknowledge him as a master of the six-string lap-steel guitar. This interview, recorded in November 1992, documented my first meeting with a musician who played in what would become known as the “sacred steel” tradition.

Sacred Steel Archive: Jeannette Eason Interview

Tough, strong-willed and big hearted, Jeannette Davis Eason was a truly remarkable woman and a major factor in Willie Eason’s success as a musician and businessman.

Sacred Steel Archive: Gamaliel Penn Interview

The son of Bishop Naomi Manning, the second Chief Overseer of the Church of the Living God, Jewell Dominion, and grandson of Bishop Lorenzo Harrison, the steel guitarist who prevailed in Jewell Dominion worship services for decades, guitarist Gamaliel Penn has deep roots in Jewell Dominion musical traditions.

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.

Sacred 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.

Sacred 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.

Sacred 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.

Sacred 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.

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