Brother Claude Ely, coined as the King Recording Label’s “Gospel Ranger” of the Appalachian Mountains, was well known and loved by many in the earlier part of twentieth century as both a religious, singer/songwriter and Pentecostal-holiness preacher. Few persons, however, knew the personal dimensions and aspects of his childhood, military service, and years of hard work in the coalfields of southwestern Virginia. Now thirty years after his legendary death, many fans still seem mesmerized and touched by this humble man’s quick wit and sincere desire to share the Gospel’s “Good News” to everyone who would listen to his message of hope and love.

Receiving notoriety for his song, “There Ain’t No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down,” Ely’s musical and spiritual influence can still be heard like a true mountain echo in and through those long, winding hollows and impoverished coal fields even today. Hollywood and the “King of Rock and Roll” would also later acknowledge their admiration and fascination with the late Brother Claude Ely. More importantly, however, Brother Ely’s own admirers and devoted, followers which many still exist today in the Appalachian mountains attest to the greatest message he taught them in not only his sermons and singing, but through his life and death as well: That those who remain in Christ will one day be taken from their earthly graves to meet Jesus and exchange their mortal bodies for immortal ones. Trading their sorrows and hard lives for ones that are free of cares, pain, and turmoil.

For these believers, when the trumpet of the Lord sounds they whole-heartily believe multitudes of bodies which have been buried deep within these Appalachian mountains will one day come out of the ground to meet their Savior and be reunited with their loved ones. These are persons that have lived hard and died hard in the coalmines and impoverished areas of Appalachia. This is the message of hope they have held on to and longed for, for decades. They’ve read it in their Holy Bibles, they’ve heard it preached in fiery sermons, and they have sung it as an anthem to be heralded among these dedicated body of believers within the Pentecostal-holiness ranks.

There Ain’t No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down
There Ain’t No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down
When I hear that trumpet sound, I’m gonna get up out of the ground.
Cause There Ain’t No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down.

This book chronicles the life and events of a single, mortal man that made an eternal impact in the lives of thousands of mountain people. His simple sermons and folkloric songs are still providing assurance, hope, and faith to its most devoted adherents.