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On Thursday, Sept. 14, The Campbell Brothers will present "Sacred
Steel," African-American gospel music with electric steel
guitar and vocals, at 8 p.m. in Berea College’s Phelps Stokes
Chapel.
Named "Best U.S. Gospel Instrumentalists of the Year," at
the Fourth Annual Real Blues Awards in 1997, The Campbell Brothers
will present a rich variety of material from the African-American
Holiness-Pentecostal repertoire with a new twist: the growling,
wailing, shouting, singing and swinging voice of the steel guitar.
Pedal steel guitarist Chuck Campbell and his lap-steel playing
brother Darick are two of the finest musicians in the "sacred
steel" tradition. Rounding out the band, which has been playing
together for nearly two decades, is a high-energy rhythm section
featuring another Campbell brother, Phil, on electric guitar and
Phil's son Carlton on drums. Katie Jackson and Denise Brown will
provide gospel vocals.
Just now emerging from the House of God Keith Dominion Church,
the electric steel guitar has been an integral part of worship
and a vital, if little know, tradition for more than sixty years.
It was introduced to church services by Willie Eason in the late
1930s. His single string passages that imitated the African-American
singing and shouting voices remain the signature sound of the Keith
Dominion steel guitar style.
As the music moves from sanctuary to concert hall – which
has included the Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy Center and Brooklyn
Academy of Music – secular audiences are now able to appreciate
a performance that is both devoted and rocking.
Recently, The Campbell Brothers produced their first album, "Pass
Me Not," on the Arhoulie label.
The performance is free and open to the public
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