33 items found
Keywords: "Willie Eason" (All words)
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Video of gospel musician Willie Eason winning the 1995 Florida Folk Heritage Award

Video of gospel musician Willie Eason winning the 1995 Florida Folk Heritage Award
Date
1995-10-07
Description
One video cassette. A popular gospel musician in the St. Petersburg area. He influenced most gospel steel guitarists. He won the 1995 Florida Folk Heritage Award. Video is of that ceremony.
Collection
Video of gospel musician Willie Eason winning the 1995 Florida Folk Heritage Award

Video of gospel musician Willie Eason winning the 1995 Florida Folk Heritage Award
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 People: Willie Eason

Folklife People: Willie Eason
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
Folklife Subject: Sacred Steel

Folklife Subject: Sacred Steel
Identifier Title Type Subject Thumbnail
Video of gospel musician Willie Eason winning the 1995 Florida Folk Heritage AwardVideo of gospel musician Willie Eason winning the 1995 Florida Folk Heritage AwardMoving ImageSingers
African Americans
Gospel (Black)
Gospel musicians
Awards
Public speaking
Rites and ceremonies
Musicians		/fpc/memory/omeka_images/thumbnails/catalog_video.jpg
flp_easonFolklife People: Willie Easoninteractive resourceGospel, Sacred Steel/fpc/memory/omeka_images/thumbnails/folklife_people.png
fls_sacred_steelFolklife Subject: Sacred Steelinteractive resourceReligious Music, Gospel, Worship Music, Steel Guitar/fpc/memory/omeka_images/thumbnails/folklife_subjects.png