‘Sacred Steel’ Campbell Brothers to Perform

January 16, 2016

Johnson State College is kicking off Black History Month with a leading gospel ensemble playing sacred steel, a form of African-American steel guitar music that originated in Pentecostal churches in the 1930s.

The Campbell Brothers will perform on stage at JSC’s Dibden Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 3. The concert is free and open to the public.

Pedal steel guitarist Chuck Campbell, a 2004 National Heritage Fellowship recipient, and his lap steel-playing brother, Darick, are two of the finest in this tradition. Rounding out the band, which has been playing together for nearly two decades, is a high-energy rhythm section featuring a third brother, Phil Campbell, on electric guitar; his son, Carlton, on drums; and bassist Daric Bennett.

The Campbell Brothers were named “Best U.S. Gospel Instrumentalists of the Year” at the fourth annual Real Blues Awards in 1997 and netted the “Best Gospel Album” Indie Award in 2002.

For more information, contact Matt Hayes, matthew.hayes2@jsc.edu or 802-635-1474.