Rev. Dallas Alexander

Rev. Dallas Alexander

Dallas Alexander was a prominent figure in the Ohio bluegrass scene, born in Jackson County, Kentucky. He began playing guitar at age 14 and moved to Ohio in 1954. After his spiritual conversion in 1961, Alexander devoted his music to spreading the gospel message. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Alexander recorded and produced several albums…

All for Jesus Singers

All for Jesus Singers

The book The Persecuted Prophets by Karen W. Carden, Robert W. Pelton mentioned the existence of a music group called the All for Jesus Singers that went “on tour”. This is at least the second mention of a named music project out of the serpent handling community, beside Tommy and Lou Coots. Although only the…

Connecting the Dots: The Music of Serpent Handlers – the Coots Duo and the Coots Duet.

Connecting the Dots: The Music of Serpent Handlers – the Coots Duo and the Coots Duet.

This photo above, is clipped from the National Geographic Snake Salvation series. Initially I took a screenshot because I collect these kinds of photos, but later I came back for another reason. I discovered the Alabama Astronaut podcast, which explores the music of the serpent handlers. There they mention the Coots family, and that Jamie…

Sounds of Middlesboro, KY and around

Only a Miner by Cadle, Tillman The Great Judgement Morning by Congregation of the Church of Ten Elders Around the same times, Henry Harrison Mayes was active, Alan Lomax traveled through Appalachia and recorded the music of the people there and the people themselves. Some recordings were released on Folkways, like When Kentucky Had No Union…

The Legend of Harrison Mayes by Just Off The Wilderness Road

The Legend of Harrison Mayes Liner Notes | Just Off The Wilderness Road It all began a hundred years agoWhen he painted a pig ‘cause the good Lord told him soGet right with God was what it had to sayThis is the legend of Harrison Mayes Up Mingo holler, down in a mineA broken rail…