The Campbell Brothers - Sacred Steel for the Holidays
  • Silent Night
  • God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
  • Go Tell it on the Mountain
  • Rock of Ages
  • The Dreydl Song
  • Joy to the World
  • What Child is This
  • Hark the Herald Angels Sing
  • The First Noel
  • The Little Drummer Boy
  • Christmas Song
  • Silent Night
    Genre: Christmas
    MP3 (04:50) [11.07 MB]
  • God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
    Genre: Christmas
    MP3 (04:55) [11.26 MB]
  • Go Tell it on the Mountain
    Genre: Christmas
    MP3 (05:11) [11.86 MB]
  • Rock of Ages
    Genre: Christmas
    MP3 (04:04) [9.31 MB]
  • The Dreydl Song
    Genre: Christmas
    MP3 (04:20) [9.94 MB]
  • Joy to the World
    Genre: Christmas
    MP3 (04:00) [9.17 MB]
  • What Child is This
    Genre: Christmas
    MP3 (04:03) [9.26 MB]
  • Hark the Herald Angels Sing
    Genre: Christmas
    MP3 (04:42) [10.77 MB]
  • The First Noel
    Genre: Christmas
    MP3 (05:18) [12.12 MB]
  • The Little Drummer Boy
    Genre: (Choose a Genre)
    MP3 (04:58) [11.38 MB]
  • Christmas Song
    Genre: Christmas
    MP3 (07:08) [16.32 MB]
Biography
Sacred Steel: African-American gospel music with electric steel guitar and vocal. This tradition is just now emerging from the House of God Keith Dominion Church, where for over sixty years it has been an integral part of worship and a vital, if little known, American tradition. As the music moves from sanctuary to concert hall -- including the Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music and Symphony Space -- secular audiences are now able to appreciate a performance both devoted and rocking.

Pedal steel guitarist Chuck Campbell 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 brother Phil Campbell on electric guitar and his son Carlton on drums.
The Campbell Brothers present
a compelling, rich variety of material from the African-American Holiness-Pentecostal repertoire with a new twist: the growling, wailing, shouting, singing and swinging voice of the steel guitar, played as you have never heard it played before.
Chuck Campbell began playing the lap steel guitar at the age of 12. At the age of 17 he became one of the first players to utilize the Pedal Steel guitar in the House of God Church, Keith Dominion. Chuck is renowned for his innovative approach to the instrument both technically and musically. His use of effects such as distortion, and wah pedal and his picking techniques enable him to emulate the human voice in an uncanny fashion, which evokes images of gospel moaning and field singing. Early in his career Chuck became recognized for becoming the first steel player to be accomplished in the Sacred Steel styles of Calvin Cooke, Ted Beard and Henry Nelson when most steel players could only play in one! Chuck's inventive blending of those methods along with his ground breaking use of complex chords and fast picking formed the musical style which is the most emulated among young Sacred Steel players today. More of Chuck's technical prowess is displayed in his role as producer and primary engineer on the new Campbell Brothers' discs, Sacred Steel On Tour and Sacred Steel For the Holidays.

Darick Campbell first made his mark in music as a drummer. For several years Darick was the premier drummer of the General Assembly, the National Convocation of the House Of God Church in Nashville, Tennessee. His choice of the Lap Steel is a reflection of the influences he has blended to become the most emotional player of The Campbell Brothers musical tour d' force. His renditions of End of My Journey have caused audiences throughout the world to weep in heartfelt response to his playing. However it is argued that his most definitive work was his solo work on The Storm is Passing Over. Darick brings the added dimension of being the vocal leader on the Campbell Brothers' What's His Name? In marked contrast to the pin drop rapture of audiences to End Of My Journey, the raucous spontaneity of What's His Name? have left Campbell Brothers' audiences everywhere dancing on a spiritual high.
Phillip Campbell began life as a drummer but quickly proceeded to the instrument which is arguably his most accomplished, the bass guitar. It was on the bass that Phil began to explore the many genres which form his eclectic musical personality. As his self-taught explorations took him into bass chord harmonics and figures, Phil began to look at the other instruments which lent themselves to chordal progressions which would express his melodic tastes and further compliment the Sacred Steel playing of his brothers. The guitar became the weapon of choice because of its ability to drive the music. Phil now combines the rhythmic attributes of the guitar with MIDI guitar synthesis to bring a unique stylistic blend, which perfectly compliments the Steels across all genres into which they venture. Phil's work as a songwriter has also been recognized. His song, Breakthrough, has been published in Germany for an upcoming Gospel compilation CD.

Drummer Carl Campbell is the heartbeat of the Campbell Brothers. Carl and dad, Phil, form the rhythmic foundation upon which The Campbell Brothers soulful Gospel is built. Formally trained in Jazz and Band Percussion, Carlton has been able to assimilate the classic rudiments of drumming with his improvisational upbringing in Church to formulate a style which always finds itself in the groove. Carlton continues to stretch his boundaries by studying the Sacred Steel tradition on his own double neck Fender String Master as he pursues his dream of being a "Campbell Brother".

Even though Denise Brown is a cousin of the Campbell Brothers there isn't any nepotism at work here. Silky smooth is the most commonly used description of this outstanding vocalist's singing. Her renditions of Don't Let The Devil Ride have garnered ovations across the United States, Europe and Africa. However her favorite song, The Storm Is Passing Over, has become an audience favorite as well. As she continues to develop her style and push her artistic boundaries, look for Denise's work to become even more compelling than it is today.

REVIEW
“The lousy truth is that to review a Christmas album in time for a December issue I've got to listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. Hallelujah! When you're ready for your own mood shift, the Campbell Brothers' Sacred Steel for the Holidays is all you need. Chuck, Phil, and Carlton head up the holidays with their sizzling lap and pedal steel - hence the nom de guerre "sacred steel" - in bluesy covers of traditional music. Mix "Go Tell It on the Mountain," "Rock of Ages," and "The Dreydl Song" with "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Joy to the World," and "Hark the Herals Angels Sing," and you've got yourself set musically. I don't quite know what it is about Christmas (Hannukkah, Kwanzaa, Eid) that keeps new titles spilling out of the bins each year. From novelty to Muzak, we all seem to acquire it. Get this one now. It will sell out and then you might get stuck in a turkey day mood for the rest of the year. Sacred Steel for the Holidays is a fine addition to it's everlasting Genre.”
(Richard Dorsett — Victory Review)
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  • Profile Last Updated:
    08/14/23 20:17:36

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