The RR thread and the implied schism between whoever he is and the redneck pickers ( ) has me wondering where all the Sacred Steelers hang out (on the web, that is). It seems like there is info on the tunings and such here, but as players they are not here....PLEASE correct me if I am mistaken. I wonder what the distinction, rift, what ever it is, is, because it seems that there are a lot of non-traditional, even experimental and avant-garde players here, but not players from the SS school of steel playing. I don't really see what the SS players and RR do as that different in terms of breaking tradition, or what ever, than many members here. For example, the smoking "Blues" video clip that Paul Franklin has up on his website seems to have more in common with the SS's than it does with trad. country playing or Nashville orthodoxy (if such a thing exists). I'm of the "good music is good music" philosophy, as I think most people here are, and most people here seem pretty cool and welcoming to good playing, but the SS folks seem to be somewhere else. Personally, I think I could learn a lot from them. Is there a web space that these players hang-out or contribute to?
The sacred steel community, from what I understand, is very much torn by the "popularity" of the music and many feel that it should not be played outside the confines of the church. It is a very insular community and some it's best practitioners, such as Sonny Treadwell, no longer play in secular settings.
That being said, you could have enjoyed Lonnie Bennett at Dallas, who is a Sacred Steeler through and through.
And, a little research and some hard listening will reveil that it is a very specific style with very specific norms to it that are not just blues riffs.
As far as I know the Sacred Steelers did not perform in secular settings until about ten years ago, most still don't take their music outside of the church.
For a good introduction to the Sacred Steel tradition I'd recommend checking out the Sacred Steel video/DVD documentary from Arhoolie. It features informative interviews with the Campbell brothers and many others, plus lots of live footage.
Prominent sacred steelers who are Forum members include Lonnie Bennett, The Campbell Brothers and Del Ray Grace. Bob Stone, the man who brought sacred steel to the recording industry, is also a Forum member.
I tend to think of Forum member Dan Tyack as a blues player, but he has toured with The Campbell Brothers and his most recent CD is in the sacred steel style.
Remember, there are a lot of Forum members who rarely post.
Actually, there are quite a few sacred steelers who read the Forum--maybe dozens, but very few who ever post. Chuck Campbell and Del Ray Grace have posted a few times, and maybe one or two others have. But several are watching and reading pretty regularly at any given time...
As a lap-steel dilettante I hang out at "no peddlers" mostly. I have deliberately kept out of the Robert Randolph threads--most of the time. His approach to pedal-steel playing, his stage presence, and the public exposure he has garnered certainly have generated a lot of comments on the Forum.
I bet if someone started a thread on Robert AND the outrageous prices of lap steels (not my opinion) we could exceed 500 posts on a single thread!
Hello Cliff,
Most Sacred Steelers generally hang out in there local churches.The Jewell dominion church closest to you is located at this address. Feel free to stop in anytime.
9103 S. San Pedro St.
Los Angeles , California 90003
Three other sacred steel players from the Jewell Dominion church are playing in Detroit Michigan starting tonight 4/21/06 -4/23/06 service is @ 6pm.Ronnie Mozee, Kynard Buchannon, and Robert Cook.These fellas can pick a steel guitar, you won't believe your ears.
10113 W. Eight Mile Rd
Detroit , Michigan 48221 www.sacredstrings.com
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Del Ray Grace on 21 April 2006 at 12:10 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Del Ray Grace on 21 April 2006 at 02:45 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Del Ray Grace on 23 April 2006 at 01:50 PM.]</p></FONT>
ok this may sound stupid but , whats the differance between sacred steel and playing for example "amazing Grace " on the steel i have Bobby Bowmans CD and he has some beautiful gospel songs on it
Sacred Steel is a specific style that comes out of the specific tradition of the House of God churches. You can play Amazing Grace in the sacred steel traditional style, but gosple is not sacred steel.
there are a number of fantastic CD's and a DVD which will help educate you on this exciting music. I'm thrilled Del Ray is posting. I hope he posts more often.
Hi Del Ray,
thank you for the kind invitation and information on the Jewell Dominion church in Los Angeles.
Thanks to all for posting on this thread. I've got "Pass Me Not" by the Campbell Brothers and Katie Jackson, and it is some very potent and inspiring music, but obviously I have a pretty shallow knowledge of what Sacred Steel is. I do appreciate this.
There are a number of traits that are uniquely sacred steel: one is mimicking the human voice. The type of vibrato and single note playing is designed to sound as much like a human voice as possible and players are judged by their ability to “sing”. Another is rhythm. This is a Pentecostal church and it is important that the music drives people to their feet. In addition, the steel is often the only instrument played, so it needs to be able to handle both rhythm and single note “singing” simultaneously.
Something to be aware of when literally walking into the sacred steel tradition is the possible difference in emphasis between the medium (instrument, copedent, styles) and the message (praise, worship). I had a respectful relationship with some Christian musicians a few years ago, and the reason that these folks did not wish to play in secular venues was partially because of the minimal existance or non-existance of the praise and worship portion of the equation in the secular world.
On the other hand, I've often said that religion should not be an excuse for bad music, but when the scales tip more in favour of the message (praise, worship) as opposed to the medium (instrument, copedent, styles) there can sometimes be some music of questionable technical quality.
I do not mean for this to be a criticism of the sacred steel movement. I'm just making a first hand observation from my many years of playing, sometimes in a secular environment, and sometimes in a religious environment. The religious crowd is more forgiving of musical limitations.
RE "The religious crowd is more forgiving of musical limitations."
Something I've heard at least a couple of the Sacred Steelers say is that the standards are pretty high in church. I don't know if that's the case in all the House of God churches, but I've received the impression that if they don't play well, they definitely hear about it.
You are exactly right Bryan to a point. I would have to agree with Travis Bernhardt, the church is definitely a tougher crowd. Our biggest challange as christian musicians is that some secular venues love the music but reject the message that we carry. We have been asked by promoters to play at different functions but asked that we not mention the name Jesus, Lord etc... In the recent edition of The Living Blues Magazine (pg.50),the reviewer praised our music but kind of dissed the spoken word parts that we inserted to convey the Gospel message. Because of our Christian convictions we are very sensitive to those who would ask us to seperate the two. Our music is what it is, period. Our tradition has very little to do with the steel guitar world at large, and everything to do with the Jewell dominion pioneers of the church who have developed this style over the course of seventy plus years.Sharing our music outside of the church walls is indeed a big step for us and changing it to compromise is not an option. www.sacredstrings.com <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Del Ray Grace on 22 April 2006 at 02:42 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Del Ray Grace on 22 April 2006 at 09:38 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Del Ray Grace on 23 April 2006 at 01:49 PM.]</p></FONT>
) has me wondering where all the Sacred Steelers hang out (on the web, that is). It seems like there is info on the tunings and such here, but as players they are not here....PLEASE correct me if I am mistaken. I wonder what the distinction, rift, what ever it is, is, because it seems that there are a lot of non-traditional, even experimental and avant-garde players here, but not players from the SS school of steel playing. I don't really see what the SS players and RR do as that different in terms of breaking tradition, or what ever, than many members here. For example, the smoking "Blues" video clip that Paul Franklin has up on his website seems to have more in common with the SS's than it does with trad. country playing or Nashville orthodoxy (if such a thing exists). I'm of the "good music is good music" philosophy, as I think most people here are, and most people here seem pretty cool and welcoming to good playing, but the SS folks seem to be somewhere else. Personally, I think I could learn a lot from them. Is there a web space that these players hang-out or contribute to?
