64 items found
Keywords: "Sacred Steel" (All words)
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Elton Noble learning gospel steel guitar from his mentor Aubrey Ghent - Fort Pierce, Florida

Elton Noble learning gospel steel guitar from his mentor Aubrey Ghent - Fort Pierce, Florida
Date
1994
Collection
Elton Noble submission for the 1994 Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program

Elton Noble submission for the 1994 Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program
Date
1994
Description
One audio cassette. Noble demonstrates his lap steel abilities for the Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program application. He was apprentice to Aubrey Ghent. In 2017, Noble was inducted into the Sacred Steel Hall of Fame. For more information, see S 1644, box 11, folder 24.
Collection
Folklife People: Willie Eason

Folklife People: Willie Eason
Date
Description
Willie Eason was a pioneering figure in the African American "Sacred Steel" guitar tradition of the House of God, Keith Dominion Holiness-Pentecostal churches. He influenced dozens of musicians and inspired many to play the steel guitar for worship services in nearly 200 House of God churches found in more than two dozen states. Florida is home to more than 40 House of God churches, more than any other state. Eason used the steel guitar to imitate the ornamented, improvised singing he heard in church and became known as "Little Willie and his Talking Guitar." His reputation increased as he made seven 78 rpm records in the 1940s and 50s for black gospel labels. Eason and his family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1986 where he continued to play for House of God services. He received the Florida Folk Heritage Award in 1995.
Collection
Folklife Subject: Sacred Steel

Folklife Subject: Sacred Steel
Date
Description
Since the 1930s, the sounds of steel guitar have been heard in an unlikely place, far removed from Nashville or the Hawaiian islands. Musicians in the Pentecostal House of God church use the steel guitar instead of the often-heard organ or piano to lead their lively, music-driven worship services. The very human, voice-like qualities of lap and pedal steel guitars are perfectly suited to underscore a spirited sermon or lead an ecstatic choir in praise. In 1992, while serving as State Folklorist, Bob Stone unearthed what became known as Sacred Steel music in South Florida.
Collection
Friday performances at the 2004 Florida Folk Festival (Main Stage) (Disc 2)

Friday performances at the 2004 Florida Folk Festival (Main Stage) (Disc 2)
Date
2004-05-28
Description
One compact disc. Kay, director of the Florida Folk Festival, served as emcee. They played gospel music on steel guitar, often referred to as sacred steel.
Collection
Friday program at the 1997 Florida Folk Festival (Folklife Narrative Stage) (Tape 10)

Friday program at the 1997 Florida Folk Festival (Folklife Narrative Stage) (Tape 10)
Date
1997-05-23
Description
One audio cassette recordings. Side A: Catalina Delgado, a trunk and Mexican paper artist and Eileen Brautman, a Jewish paper artist are interviewed by Laurie Sommers. Delgado discusses paper-cutting techniques and how designs are made. Brautman explains traditional and contemporary calligraphy and paper cutting according to the European tradition. She tells of making stories from the Bible, use of animals and other designs and the making of a Ketubah (Jewish marriage contract). Side B: Sonny Treadway (Deerfield Beach, FL), sacred steel guitarist is interviewed by Laurie Sommers. He discusses sacred steel guitar and gospel music as well as his musical influences such as his father, other family members and church musicians. He plays by ear and has written several original songs.
Collection
Glenn Lee interview for the Sacred Steel Guitar Recording Project

Glenn Lee interview for the Sacred Steel Guitar Recording Project
Date
1994-03-07
Description
Three audio cassette recordings. Interview with steel guitarist Glenn Lee at his Perrine residence. He discussed his family (including uncles, steel guitarists Willie Blue and M.J. Harrison), learning steel guitar, Keith and Jewel Dominion churches, steel guitarists Henry Nelson, Darrel Blue, & Aubrey Ghent, influence of country music (Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Dolly Parton), playing Spanish guitar, fiddle, & banjo, his education, steel guitar tunings and playing styles, various people he has trained, playing the National Assembly in Nashville, and the lack of female sacred steel guitarists. The Sacred Steel Guitar Recording Project originated in 1992 when Florida Folklife Program folklorist Robert Stone discovered that several predominantly African American House of God churches (a sub-sect of the Pentecostal church) in the St. Petersburg area were using steel guitars in their religious services. The practice began by Willie and Troman Eason in the 1930s, and expanded upon by players such as Henry Nelson and Lorenzo Harrison. Realizing that this was a unique musical tradition, labeled Sacred Steel, the Florida Folklife Program to applied for a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to conduct fieldwork and create a music album for public dispersal. The aim of the project was to increase public awareness of the gospel steel guitar tradition, as well as document it for future generations. Matched with state funds, the grant period originally ran from October 1993 through October 1994, but was extended for another year. In that time Stone, along with sound engineers William Dudley and Mike Stapleton, interviewed and recorded several steel guitarists in the St. Petersburg area. An album entitled Sacred Steel was released in 1995. It was then re-released through an agreement with Arhoolie Records in 1997.
Collection
Glenn Lee performing Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Savior

Glenn Lee performing Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Savior
Date
1994-03-07
Description
One audio cassette recording. For more of Lee, see tapes 2 and 4. The Sacred Steel Guitar Recording Project originated in 1992 when Florida Folklife Program folklorist Robert Stone discovered that several predominantly African American House of God churches (a sub-sect of the Pentecostal church) in the St. Petersburg area were using steel guitars in their religious services. The practice began by Willie and Troman Eason in the 1930s, and expanded upon by players such as Henry Nelson and Lorenzo Harrison. Realizing that this was a unique musical tradition, labeled Sacred Steel, the Florida Folklife Program to applied for a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to conduct fieldwork and create a music album for public dispersal. The aim of the project was to increase public awareness of the gospel steel guitar tradition, as well as document it for future generations. Matched with state funds, the grant period originally ran from October 1993 through October 1994, but was extended for another year. In that time Stone, along with sound engineers William Dudley and Mike Stapleton, interviewed and recorded several steel guitarists in the St. Petersburg area. An album entitled Sacred Steel was released in 1995. It was then re-released through an agreement with Arhoolie Records in 1997.
Collection
Glenn Lee performing sacred steel music with a band at a House of God church

Glenn Lee performing sacred steel music with a band at a House of God church
Date
1994-03-07
Description
One audio cassette recording. (Duplicate can be found on tape 5.) Recorded at a Church of God church (not during church services)in Perrine, Florida. The band consisted of Glenn Lee (steel guitar), Alvin Lee (bass), Benjamin Beckford (drums), and John Hampton (guitar). Excerpted from a longer recording (see tapes 18-20 in S 2044). The Sacred Steel Guitar Recording Project originated in 1992 when Florida Folklife Program folklorist Robert Stone discovered that several predominantly African American House of God churches (a sub-sect of the Pentecostal church) in the St. Petersburg area were using steel guitars in their religious services. The practice began by Willie and Troman Eason in the 1930s, and expanded upon by players such as Henry Nelson and Lorenzo Harrison. Realizing that this was a unique musical tradition, labeled Sacred Steel, the Florida Folklife Program to applied for a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to conduct fieldwork and create a music album for public dispersal. The aim of the project was to increase public awareness of the gospel steel guitar tradition, as well as document it for future generations. Matched with state funds, the grant period originally ran from October 1993 through October 1994, but was extended for another year. In that time Stone, along with sound engineers William Dudley and Mike Stapleton, interviewed and recorded several steel guitarists in the St. Petersburg area. An album entitled Sacred Steel was released in 1995. It was then re-released through an agreement with Arhoolie Records in 1997.
Collection
Gospel steel guitarist Aubrey Ghent - Fort Pierce, Florida

Gospel steel guitarist Aubrey Ghent - Fort Pierce, Florida
Date
1994
Collection
Title