Frank Newsome

Elder Frank Newsome, of Little David Old Regular Baptist Church outside of Haysi, Virginia, is one of the great masters of the Old Regular Baptist singing style, which he used to inspire his small but spirited congregation every Sunday.

September 23, 2009; 5:11 PM • by Scott Pharr

Old Regular Baptist Singing
Haysi, VA

From the Brothers Burton

Taylor says: Words sort of escape me to describe Frank Newsome. Very powerful, honest solo gospel singing. Every time I hear him, I feel like I should stop playing music altogether.

Scott says: Sometimes one voice is all you need. Frank Newsome brings the honesty. Some bands wear silly outfits and endlessly try to look cool…Mr. Newsome just sings… really well.

Professional Bio

The singing of the Old Regular Baptists is one of the oldest and deepest veins of American spiritual singing traditions. This hymnody, with its elaborate, lined-out, unaccompanied singing is prevalent throughout the coalfield region of central Appalachia, but is barely known outside its region. It cannot be heard on television or radio, and is largely unavailable on recordings. Elder Frank Newsome, of Little David Old Regular Baptist Church outside of Haysi, Virginia, is one of the great masters of this singing style, which he used to inspire his small but spirited congregation every Sunday. Frequent Little David attendee Dr. Ralph Stanley has been so enamored with Newsome’s singing that he regularly invites him to sing at his annual music festival. Frank’s singing has touched the hearts of many, and he was most recently honored with the first ever Virginia State Heritage Award.