Brother Claude Ely (1922-1978), once described as the King Recording Label's "Gospel Ranger," was a revered religious singer-songwriter and a Pentecostal-Holiness preacher, cherished throughout the Appalachian mountains. Despite his fame, few knew the intricate details of his childhood, military service, and years of hard toil in the coal fields of southwestern Virginia.

What Ely was most celebrated for was his brilliance as a preacher and his songwriting gifts. His iconic song, "There Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down," left a musical and spiritual legacy that continues to echo through the Appalachians and the world of gospel music today.

This oral biography, authored by Ely's great-nephew Macel Ely, is composed from recorded interviews with more than 1,000 people in the Appalachian Mountains who knew Brother Claude Ely personally. The book paints a vivid picture of Ely's life and his enduring influence on those who heard his message of hope and love.