No More Closer Walks with Thee

I spent many summers of my youth in Harlan, KY with my granny, Roxie Pope. Each summer the vacant lot across Mound Street became home to a Pentecostal tent revival. Evenings found granny and me sitting on her porch swing with a glass of homemade lemonade with a sprig of mint from alongside her house. We’d watch the folks come and go and I’d fall asleep listening to the music, hand clapping and preaching from inside that tent. Little did I know I was being infused with gospel music I would carry with me all my life. It was lying in that bed that I first heard “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” “Rock of Ages,” and “Amazing Grace.”