About The Lineup

David Fonville

David Fonville was born and raised in the city of Atlantic City, NJ. As a kid growing up he loved to play sports and music but music became his true love and the biggest reason for that were his parents the late Bishop Margie and Deacon Alfred Fonville, not only did they bring me to church but they’ve also encouraged me to be active and participate in the ministry needless to say I’ve found my calling very early on in life and I thank God everyday for this special gift that he has bestowed upon me to share not only within the walls of the church but also the listening ears of world to hear. Full Bio Coming Soon

Nicolle “Nikki D” Brown

Nicolle “Nikki D” Brown, was born August 19, 1971, to Curtis & Ruth Brown in Toledo, Ohio. Nikki began playing the steel guitar at the age of eight years old as a member of the Soul City House of God, International.

Nikki’s parents purchased her first Fender lap steel from Durdell’s music store, a local music store in Toledo. She received her first lesson from Ruth Durdell. Her sacred steel influences were Yoyo Ramsey, Henry Tyson, Fran Grace, Greg Newell, and Del Grace. Nicolle is the lap steel player and lead vocalist with the Brown Family Singers a family gospel quartet group founded by her parents. Nikki later formed the Sisters of Thunder, a sacred steel band consisting of her family members.

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Jason Whitehead

Born in Hartford, CT, Jason was influenced by his late grandmother Bishop Mae Daisy Whitehead of the House of God church and musically inspired by his late father Ulysses Whitehead Sr. and cousin Galen Davis.
Jason has been mentored and guided by the living, Sacred Steel Legend, Chuck Campbell who provided many opportunities for his gift to flourish.
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Anthony Fox

Anthony Levelle Fox, was born August 19, 1972 in Goose Creek, South Carolina to the union of Lon and Geraldine Fox. He grew up in the House of God church located in Charleston, South Carolina, and became interested in playing the steel guitar at the age of seven years old.
His first steel guitar was a 6 string Guyatone lap steel which his uncle Jerry Gadson taught him to play. He also learned to play the bass guitar and drums.
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Del Ray Grace Sr

Del was born in Toledo, Ohio September 28, 1960 to Curtis and Loretta (Brownlee) Grace, and raised up in the Jewell Dominion Church organization for the first 35 years of his life.
Like many impressionable youths in the church, Del was encouraged by older musicians to learn the church’s music tradition. He played multiple instruments such as steel guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar and drums. Del grew very fond of the steel guitar and began to follow in the footsteps of some of the great pioneers of the tradition such as Henry Wayne White (Detroit, Michigan), James Tubby Golden (Cleveland, Ohio), and Lorenzo L. Harrison (Indianapolis, Indiana).
Full Bio Coming Soon

Dante Harmon

Dante Harmon was born April 23, 1974 in Ft Lauderdale, Florida to the union of Eddie Harmon and Gwendolyn (Shaw) Harmon. Dante has three siblings, three children and one grand child.
At the tender age of seven years old playing he began playing the drums and accompanying musicians at “The House of God Church”. His late grandmother, Julia Shaw always recognized his musical aptitude, and she purchase his first steel guitar. His grandmother’s support inspired Dante at fourteen years of age to embark on mastering the Double Necked black Gibson steel guitar.
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Calvin Cooke

Born January 11, 1944 grew up in Cleveland, Oh. Calvin has played the Pentecostal circuit since he was 14 years old as a member of the Jewell Dominion church of the Living God. Growing up in church, he was raised with a deep-seated understanding of the power of music.
In 2009, Calvin was presented with the Legends Award at the 2009 Sacred Strings Showcase Concert in Toledo, Ohio. He was inducted into the Sacred Steel Hall of Fame in 2010.

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Lonnie Bennett

Born in Hartford Connecticut to Lonnie and Rosa Mae Bennett. My father; The late Bishop Lonnie Bennett of the Keith Dominion listened to everything from Opera to Jazz, blues, country and western. He called himself a music appreciator but his Mother had been given the gift to sing.
He was given his first pedal steel (Harlin Brothers Multikord 6 string) from his Uncle (Phillip Joseph Fletcher Jr). He also learned to play keyboard and lead guitar. Lonnie learned lead guitar well enough to play for various groups ranging from gospel quartet to rock.
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Bryan Josh Taylor

Bryan Taylor was born January 5, 1979 to elder Jerry Taylor and Deaconess Barbara Taylor. He has four other siblings, Bonnita, Jerry Jr, Anitra, and Crystal Taylor. Bryan is married to the lovely LaTrunda Taylor, they have been blessed with three children, Erica, Erin, Josh Jr.
Bryan began his sacred steel journey at the age of 8 years old. He is also a multi-talented musician playing the lead guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, piano/keyboard, and drums.

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Elton L Noble

Elton L. Noble was born Nov 28, 1962 to Vera B Noble and Willie Gregory. He is married to the lovely Delana Noble and to this union was born three children, Teione, Lamonte, and Caleb.
Elton began playing steel guitar at the age of 13 years old, he’s a multi-talented musician also playing bass guitar and drums.
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Pastor Maurice Ted Beard

Maurice Ted Beard, born June 15, 1935 to Maurice Sr., and Fannie Mae (Asberry) Beard. Ted began his music career as a member of the Jewell Dominion Church of the Living God, where he played the steel guitar with his brothers Douglas and Billy Beard in Detroit, Michigan.
The Beard family later joined the Keith Dominion House of God Church, where Ted became the Chief Musician and National Music Coordinator. He is highly respected as one of the leading practitioners and innovators of the Sacred Steel music tradition.

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Aubrey Ghent

Aubrey Ghent born October 17, 1958 to the union of Henry Nelson and Hattie Ghent Nelson. On July 31, 1993 he married Lori Colley. Aubrey has been playing the lap steel guitar for over 40 years. He is a true legend and master artist in his own right.
At the age of six Aubrey developed a great passion for the lap steel and after three years of much practice he began playing for church services at the age of 9 years old. His skill level was so amazing that local churches and other events began inviting him to play for services and venues.
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Alvin Lee

My name is Alvin Lee, but my nephews call me Uncle Al, and my mom always called me Big Al growing up. I was born in Miami, Florida, on Nov. 25, 1966, and raised in a little sub-city called Richmond Heights.
I have seven brothers and sisters. We were introduced to music as a family with my father and my mother. My father was a minister at the House of God Church in Perrine. All my parents did was music. My father sang jubilee songs in the church, played the guitar, piano and trombone.

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Charles “Chuck” T. Campbell

Chuck began playing in the church at age eleven and today is recognized as a great innovator and teacher of the tradition. In the 1970’s he began playing the twelve string pedal steel guitar.
Campbell developed a unique tuning and set-up for the pedal steel that is emulated by a new generation of steel players.
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Erick Lewis

Known for his skill on a variety of stringed instruments, Memphis-based multi-instrumentalist Eric Lewis travels across North America playing acoustic, bluegrass, country, folk, swing, blues and rock music. A recipient of the Premier String Player Award from the Memphis chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Lewis has earned accolades nationwide for his abilities on guitar, dobro, steel guitar, mandolin, and more. Known for his impeccable musical taste as much as for his hot guitar licks, Eric Lewis has performed or recorded with artists like Jerry Phillips (son of legendary Sam Phillips), Hi Rhythm greats Leroy and Charles Hodges (Al Green, Ann Peebles), Jimbo Mathus (Buddy Guy),Keith Sykes (John Prine, Jimmy Buffett), Cheri Knight (Steve Earle) and Prairie Home Companion favorites Robin and Linda Williams.
A Tennessee native, Eric Lewis began playing guitar when he was 13 years old. Having attended the University of Memphis on a Trumpet scholarship, Lewis’ musical acumen is as broad as it is deep, extending into classical and rock music as well as the roots music he currently plays. His widespread, eclectic musical knowledge makes him a skilled teacher, composer, arranger, and producer as well as an instrumentalist.

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Dashawn Hickman

DaShawn is a virtuoso of the pedal steel guitar. He came up in the Sacred Steel tradition, learning from his mother to play with a vocal like ability. Wendy Hickman is Dashawn wife and she rounds out the duo. Her soulful voice breaths life into some of the songs you’ll hear on the latest album. She is gifted in telling the story. Together they are able to bring the tradition forth in a way that will take you along for the ride.

Together they have been featured in Vintage Guitar Magazine, All About Jazz Magazine Down Beat Magazine, and New York Times
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Reginald “Footie” Covington

Born to Bessie and Reginald Covington in Philadelphia, Pa. I have 3 siblings, of which I am the youngest. I am the only son and the baby of the family. I am also the father of one daughter.
I have been singing and playing music since I was 7 years old. I grew up listening to the late Bishop LL Harrison, Robert Chase, Kim Love, Gamaliel Penn, and Ronnie Mozee. I developed an interest in this unique sound in the early 80s.

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