2012 Diamond Jubilee Celebration 4th Annual Sacred Strings Showcase entitled “Diamond Jubilee Celebration” Sacred Steel is used mostly in the African American Pentecostal Church and is its own unique brand of American Folk Music-whether for worship or other types of performance, it is one of the most energetic and remarkable contributions to Pentecostal music history. The 4th Annual Sacred Strings Showcase Concert was another monumental success! Sacred Strings Records Inc., founded by Del Ray & Kelli Grace, has established Toledo, Ohio as “The Mecca” of some of the greatest Sacred Steel performances ever. Seventeen African American steel guitar players from eight cities and six states gathered with their bands for the annual two day celebrating the “75th Diamond Jubilee” of Sacred Steel music. Mother Mary Lena Lewis Tate (1871 – 1930) was born Mary Lena Street on January 5, 1871, in Dickson, Tennessee. In 1903 Mother Tate founded the House of God, Church of the Living God in Greenville, Alabama, and from within her church, the African American steel guitar tradition was born. She is recognized as the first African American woman to establish a Holiness Pentecostal organization in the United States. Performers are Fran Grace, Shanta Bristow, Joe Randall, Aaron Hines, Nicolle Brown, Demetrius Beasley, Yolando (Yoyo) Ramsey, Kashiah Hunter and the ATL Crew, Andre Beasley, William Beasley, Charles Flenory, Bishop Ronnie P. Hall, Elder Maurice Ted Beard, Eric Russell, Del Grace & the Amazing Grace Praise Band, Calvin Cooke, Clifford Warren, and Odis Hychs