Aubrey Ghent

After 38 years of playing the Lap Steel Guitar, 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. His first guitar was a 'true tone' rhythm and he used a true tone amplifier which was a great combination, but Ghent wasn't satisfied. He decided to use a #16 nail under the stings to raise their height (as he had seen someone else do) in order to use a steel bar and play the guitar as a steel. After about six months his two grandfathers; Bishop W.L. Nelson and Elder Eugene Ghent, got together and bought his first steel guitar and amplifier. It was a red 'Supro' and a small, used, tweed 'Fender Deluxe' amp. After three years of much practice he began playing for church services at age nine. His skills were so amazing that local churches and other events began inviting him to play for services and venues. It wasn't long before he began to travel to other cities and states playing his steel.

As a teenage deacon Aubrey began to preach and was called "the preaching deacon". At age 20 he fully accepted the call and began evangelizing through word and music. His preaching ministry and church positions became increasingly demanding and took precedence over his music which caused him to play less. After several years Ghent realized that his purpose and destiny was to fulfill both ministries and he began devoting equal time and attention to them both. One day while playing tunes in a music store in Miami, Florida in the fall of 1992, an employee told him that he knew of a man who would love to hear him play. It was Robert Stone of the Florida Folklife Department. Stone soon contacted Ghent and interviewed him at his home. He was floored and somewhat speechless to hear an African American man play a steel guitar with such skill and expertise. Ghent had been playing at concerts throughout Florida and other states and now with Bob's assistance he began to play at festivals and events on a state, national and international level. Once Stone learned that Aubrey was a third generation lap steel guitarist he knew he was on to something big! Several services and programs were set up for Aubrey and his father, Henry Nelson (who played the steel for more than 50 years) to be recorded together as well as Willie Eason, Ghent's uncle who introduced the steel to the House of God Churches and thus is recognized as the "Father of Gospel Steel".