Rev. Louis Overstreet
Photo courtesy Arhoolie Foundation/Chris Strachwitz
The Reverend Louis Overstreet (1921-1980) was a singing and guitar playing preacher who, with his four sons, recorded some extremely powerful blues-inspired gospel music in Phoenix, Arizona during the 1960's. In 1962, he was recorded at his home and at his Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) services just off of Broadway in south Phoenix, the results appearing on an Arhoolie Records LP. Overstreet also self-released some stellar singles later in the decade.
In 1963, a German film crew came to the United States on a quest to document traditional American roots music. Several stops in Arizona were included that captured incredible footage of a service led by the Reverend and his sons in Phoenix – it truly has to be seen to be believed. This service as well as footage of them performing on the streets of Tucson can be seen in the 2010 Arhoolie Foundation DVD, Down Home Music - A Journey Through the Heartland 1963.
In 2020, the Arhoolie Foundation also published some incredible photographs of Overstreet and his sons performing both on the streets of south Phoenix as well as in and in front of their church. Be sure to listen to the fascinating 30-minute interview with the Reverend, done by Arhoolie Records' Chris Strachwitz.
Rev. Louis Overstreet died in Phoenix in 1980.
Rev. Overstreet’s headstone in Portland, Oregon
In 2017, I located Rev. Louis Overstreet's grave in Portland, Oregon where in the he had started another COGIC church in the 1970s and maintained a second residence.
Overstreet's celebrated Arhoolie work is still available on CD, re-released in 1995 with additional tracks.
Some of his late-60's tracks are found on “Flyin’ High” – a great CD comp you can get on eBay and Amazon. Look it up under: Arizona Soul/Blues/Gospel/R&B/Jazz CD "FLYIN' HIGH".
Modified from the original published article in The Jelly Roll Journal for Black History Month, February 2021.
