Joyful Sounds: An Introduction to Sacred Steel

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If you’re not familiar, “Sacred Steel” music is a subset of Gospel music originating with the House of God churches, particularly the Keith and Jewell Dominion sects. Brothers Troman and Willie Eason are credited with the introduction of lap steel guitar in worship services, replacing the more traditional organ.

According to Chuck Campbell (of the Campbell Brothers), in an interview with The New Yorker:

“Sacred Steel started in Philadelphia, in the nineteen-thirties: “A man named Willie Eason was the first. His brother, Troman, had a lap steel because of the Hawaiian-guitar craze. Behind his brother’s back, Willie would take it to the church and mimic the voices.”

Sacred Steel music can be found in many states but was first brought to a wider audience with Arhoolie’s 1997 compilation ‘Sacred Steel: Traditional Sacred African-American Steel Guitar Music in Florida.” The music’s best-known guitarist is probably Robert Randolph who has garnered crossover success.

I put together an hour-long mix introducing you to some of the key players. Enjoy.

Tracklisting:

  1. Joyful Sounds by Glenn Lee

  2. Praise Music by Aubrey Ghent

  3. Jewell Praise by Amazing Grace Praise Band

  4. Without God by Robert Randolph

  5. Since I Laid My Burden Down by  Calvin Cooke

  6. Jesus Will Fix It For You by Sonny Treadway

  7. Come On Help Me Lift Him Up by The Lee Boys

  8. Sit Down If You Can by  Elwood Haygood With The Campbell Brothers

  9. Blood On That Rock by The Word

  10. All God’s Children by Elton Noble

  11. Something's Got A Hold Of Me by Dante Harmon

  12. Good All The Time by The Campbell Brothers

If you’re interested in listening to more Sacred Steel music, here are the albums each of these songs are a part of. Click through for purchase links. Albums are pictured in the order they appear on the mix.

Othar Turner and Luther Dickinson - "Bye Bye Baby (Call That Gone)" [1996]

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North Mississippi Allstars will release their new album 'Up and Rolling' on New West Records. Ramping up to the release of the album, the Allstars have posted a video of Luther Dickinson accompanying fife and drum/hill country blues legend Otha Turner (sometimes spelled “Othar”).

Listen to “Shimmy She Wobble” by Otha Turner & The Afrossippi Allstars from the 2000 album From Senegal to Senatobia on Episode 23 of The Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow.

I know this post was originally about the new North Mississippi Allstars but as long as we’re at it, here’s another video of Otha Turner, this time with his fife and drum band, shot by Alan Lomax “playing a picnic at Othar's farm.”

  • Visit North Mississippi Allstars official website.

  • Follow North Mississippi Allstars on Facebook.

  • Follow North Mississippi Allstars on Twitter.

  • Support North Mississippi Allstars at Bandcamp.

  • Purchase North Mississipi Allstars music at Amazon.

  • Visit Otha Turner’s official website.

  • Visit the official Facebook group.

  • Follow Otha Turner’s Twitter account.

  • Purchase Otha Turner’s music at Amazon.

  • Listen to “Shimmy She Wobble” by Otha Turner & The Afrossippi Allstars from the 2000 album From Senegal to Senatobia on Episode 23 of The Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow.