Oral history of Ella Hanshaw, 2 of 2

Identifier:

4224.HanshawElla.AudioInt.002.11.20.18

Title:

Oral history of Ella Hanshaw, 2 of 2

Date:

2018-11-20

Description:

Ella Hanshaw (b. Ella Samples, October 7, 1934 Procious, WV- d. July 29, 2020, Seville, OH) was a songwriter and musician who grew up in Maysel, West Virginia. She was most recently living with her husband Tracy in Seville, OH. In the 1980s, Ella, Tracy, and Maxine and Chester Spencer formed the Hallelujah Hill Quartet, performing Ellas original gospel songs and traditional gospel in churches across West Virginia. Hanshaw was raised in a Baptist church, but became Pentecostal in 1991. She experienced holy visions and believed her songs were a gift from God. In 2018, Ellas granddaughter Kelly Kerney, and Kerneys partner Ethan Bullard, produced a CD-R of the Hallelujah Hill Quartet recordings.

Subject:

Folk music--West Virginia, gospel quartets, Old-time music, Country music, Clay County (W. Va.), Women lyricists, Gospel music, Working class--Songs and music

Rights:

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Location:

Clay County (W. Va.), Seville (Ohio)

Format:

audio/wav

Language:

English

Source:

A&M 4224, West Virginia Folklife Program Collection