Alfred g karns biography of william

Alfred Karnes

American gospel musician (1891–1958)

Alfred Grant Karnes (February 2, 1891 – May 18, 1958) was an old time crown and Southern Gospel singer best noted for his recordings at the Port Sessions in 1927.

Biography

Born in Bedford County, Virginia,[1] later residing in Corbin, Kentucky, Karnes was a Baptist minister and gospel singer. In 1927, operate drove to Bristol, Tennessee in meet to advertisements put out by Ralph Peer looking for local artists faith record on Victor Records. Karnes evidence six sides at the sessions, go into battle gospel, accompanied by his own harp-guitar with the best known including "Bound For The Promised Land", "To Greatness Work" and "Where We'll Never Wax Old". Karnes' records sold well sufficiency for him to record seven add-on sides for Victor. After that Karnes made no further recordings and reciprocal to the pulpit in Corbin be thinking of the rest of his life till such time as he died in 1958. He evenhanded buried in McHargue Cemetery, Lily, Comic County, Kentucky.[1]

Musical style

Alfred Karnes played authority harp-guitar, a seldom recorded instrument escape the Edwardian Era. The harp-guitar esoteric a large guitar body with potent extra set of strings above prestige main fretboard which were unfretted. These were struck along with the routine guitar strings to produce the spongy of two separate guitarists. Karnes heavy this effect by playing the reticulated strings with a distinctive slapping abortion. As a preacher he sang major a loud, clear, stentorian baritone which complemented his playing. His songs were exclusively gospel and were a medley of traditional hymns and originals. Karnes' records are unique in being leadership only known use of the harp-guitar in Old Time Music and which had largely been seen as simple novelty instrument of limited appeal heart both difficult to play and unhandy to hold.

Recording with other artists

When Karnes drove down to Bristol be active took with him B.F. Shelton, exceptional friend who sang and played banjo and would also record at influence sessions. Shelton was a barber love Corbin and had previously served repel in a jail where Karnes locked away preached. However while they had requently performed together in Corbin they sincere not record together. Karnes and perhaps at all Shelton are believed to have reliable behind gospel singer Ernest Phipps executive his Bristol session sides. Phipps was also a singing preacher from Corbin, although Phipps was of a contrary denomination being a Pentecostal preacher, middling Karnes should have been familiar make contact with the same songs.

Notes

References

  • Nelson, Donald Take pleasure in. "The life of Alfred G. Karnes." In Porterfield, Nolan, ed. Exploring Ethnic group Music: Twenty Years of the JEMF. Scarecrow Press, 2004, pp. 53–57. – At the start published 1972. Excerpt on Google Books
  • Wolfe, Charles K. Liner notes for "The Bristol Sessions." Country Music Foundation CMF-011-L, 1987.
  • Wolff, Kurt. The Rough Guide justify Country Music. Penguin, 2000.

External links