Search - Various Artists :: The Gospel According to Austin: Volume 5

It?s been said that Austin exudes two key redemptive gifts ? Music & Mercy. These gifts are expressed consistently in the diverse music community of Austin. The Gospel According to Austin Project submits this CD compilation to those who have ears to hear this traditional, honest, spiritual, soulful, rootsy "kick-butt Gospel" music. The old stuff that speaks of material poverty and spiritual riches, that warms your heart and breaks it, that gives folks a liftin? and the devil a kickin?. The purpose of this CD is to raise funds for Don Walser?s ongoing health care (20% of profits), for the continuance of the Gospel According to Austin Project, and to further expose and make more recognizable the on-going Gospel music heritage of Texas and the providence of that foundation - great music & great mercy. Disc Two consists primarily of a recording of Rev. Dan Smith in 1991, produced by Buddy Miller. It is a tremendous preservation of a last-of-a-kind sacred minstrel, in the tradition of Blind Willie Johnson and Washington Phillips, two of Texas? own sacred minstrels who recorded in the 1920?s and 1930?s. Rev. Dan lived to be over 80 years old, and these stellar quality recordings of his original songs were recorded in the twilight of his days. They are songs that reflect the hard life of depressed times, the music of his culture, and the collected spiritual wisdom of the old agrarian South. Rev. Dan passed away in the mid 1990?s, but the country-blues gospel art form lives on in this CD.