Alabama Astronaut

Folk artist Abe Partridge, spurred by the Covid lockdowns, pursued Signs Following songs for six long years. 

These songs (which mention the handling of serpents and consumption of deadly poisons) have been performed for decades by the "serpent handlers" of the Appalachians.

At a music festival in Kentucky, Abe Partridge – along with podcasting buddy Ferrill Gibbs – attempt to document these songs live, using a professional recording engineer. (Ryan Engelberger, Chase Park Transduction. Athens, GA.)

The service opens with Sister Dootsie Rose. Then, a five-member band – led by co-pastors Andrew and Taylor Hamblin – takes the stage. 

The serpent-handling group of veteran musicians perform decades-old songs before an audience of more than 200 festival goers.

Abe's effort to record undocumented music becomes something greater. A public act of worship, captured pristinely by a group of professionals, gives the secular audience a glimpse of a faith as devout as they come.

Visit A.A.R.T. (the Alabama Astronaut Radio Transmission) for a 10-episode podcast following Abe into the world of undocumented folk art...

In Anniston, an Alabama newspaper attributes a mystery felony to serpent handling preacher Glenn Summerford. 

The claim initiates a new quest for podcasters Abe Partridge and Ferrill Gibbs, tipped off about the article by Andrew Hamblin, serpent handling preacher from Gray, KY.

For months, Ferrill and Abe dig into the claim, and in the process discover parts of the Summerford story do not jibe with the media's coverage over the years.

Coloring the way Abe views journalists on the "Snake Beat" is the media's treatment of Andrew and Taylor Hamblin, who, one night, let down their guard for Ferrill and Abe. In a rousing display of trust and acceptance, the two instrumentalists play Ferrill and Abe an incredible version of the faith's most powerful song, Little David Play On Your Harp. It happens late in the night, capping an incredible overnight recording session.

Over the years, Abe Partridge and Ferrill Gibbs have maintained a steady appetite for hunting down songs of the serpent handling people.

New information – courtesy of a serpent handling preacher from Gray, Kentucky – diverted the fellows to an interesting trail.

Abe Partridge, songwriting artist turned prolific documentarian; and Ferrill Gibbs, Murrow Award-winning podcast producer, peel back the "big stinking onion" to see what lies beneath.

Meanwhile, imprisoned serpent handling believer Glenn Summerford still serves a 99 year sentence. Any day now, a fresh parole hearing comes.

Abe and Ferrill's journey began in 2020, with a podcast called Alabama Astronaut. (To start at the beginning, go there.) In 2024, they released a memoir of serpent handling believer Cody Coots, Marked for Life. It's a deep dive podcast into the mind of one serpent handling believer.

Music by Kenosha Kid. 
Special thanks to freelance journalist Beth Braden.

This episode attempts to recreate the warmth surrounding Abe’s artist reception, "With Signs Following, featuring dozens of Abe's paintings that depict characters from the serpent handling faith. Many events described in Alabama Astronaut came alive to the soundtrack of Abe’s field recordings.

Abe's art exhibit is viewable at the Alabama Contemporary Art Center until May 20th. For more information, go here!

When Abe first decided to co-produce a podcast about his music-documenting journey, he approached the serpent handlers and told them of his plans. 
 
Knowing they'd been the subject of ridicule in the past (and that they probably didn't trust him), Abe promised he would send them the podcast before it was ever released. 
 
He said they could have full editorial control.
 
When he and Ferrill completed a draft worthy of release, Abe sent the podcast to serpent handlers Cody Coots, Cassy Coots, Andrew Hamblin and Taylor Hamblin. 
 
In return, he received a downright humbling text ...

Abe and Ferrill prepare for an interview with Dennis Covington. 
 
Abe lists out the questions, which include a surprising claim about Loretta Lynn and her ­(if true) connection to the serpent handling faith. Also, Abe plans to ask the difficult question: Did Dennis Covington apologize to Old Rockhouse Holiness Church?

After the in-person interview with Covington, Abe hits the road to continue strengthening his relationships with members of the faith. One day, he lands a gig at the world-famous Bluebird Café in Nashville, Tennessee – a sold out show. Abe invites serpent-handling preacher Andrew Hamblin on stage to accompany him on one of Abe’s most personal songs: “Appalachian Farewell.”

Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content!

Alabama Astronaut Podcast website

Find us on social, too:

Alabama Astronaut Facebook

Alabama Astronaut's Twitter

Alabama Astronaut Instagram

Special thanks goes to:

Shawn Byrne

The Bluebird Cafe

Dennis Covington and the family of Dennis Covington

Andrew and Taylor Hamblin

Cathy Partridge

Elizabeth "Fish" Gibbs

Gregory Coots

Cody and Cassy Coots

Tony Feyer

We also want to express a very special thanks to the The Jacob Hall Memorial Music Grant. Thank you, all! Your help came to us in an extremely crucial time... we will not forget it!

Ferrill tracks down Dennis Covington, author of Salvation on Sand Mountain, only to discover that Mr. Covington suffers from a condition brought about by his own quest for faith, detailed in a 2014 autobiography, "Revelation." 
 
Ferrill pre-interviews Covington, scheduling a day for Abe to interview the author in Lubbock, Texas.

Meanwhile, Abe beelines to the bedside of Billy Summerford, preacher of Old Rockhouse Holiness Church, who is dying of cancer. At Billy’s bedside, Abe re-encounters Greg Coots, Cody’s Grandfather. Abe tells Greg about an album he’s been searching for, a recording of Greg’s parents, the founders of Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name.
 
Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content!

Alabama Astronaut Podcast website

Find us on social, too:

Alabama Astronaut Facebook

Alabama Astronaut's Twitter

Alabama Astronaut Instagram

Special thanks goes to:

Shawn Byrne

The Bluebird Cafe

Dennis Covington and the family of Dennis Covington

Andrew and Taylor Hamblin

Cathy Partridge

Elizabeth "Fish" Gibbs

Gregory Coots

Cody and Cassy Coots

Tony Feyer
Cathy Partridge

Abe and Ferrill return from the Coots' recording session in Middlesboro, Ky., then conduct an extensive internet search to verify that they are truly the pioneers of recording these songs. They are surprised to discover an artist from New York named Tony Feyer, whose history with the serpent-handling faith includes documenting of one of the most legendary serpent-handling churches of all time: the Church of the Lord Jesus in Jolo, West Virginia. 
 
Tony befriends Ferrill and Abe, and offers to share copies of DAT recordings he produced in the early 90’s. These recordings were the fruit of Tony’s partnership with none other than American folk music documentarian, Alan Lomax.

Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content!

Alabama Astronaut Podcast website

Find us on social, too:

Alabama Astronaut Facebook

Alabama Astronaut's Twitter

Alabama Astronaut Instagram

Special thanks this episode:

American Folklife Center, Library of Congress: Aunt Molly Jackson speaking on serpent handlers

Tony Feyer

Andrew and Taylor Hamblin
Gregory and Cody Coots
Elizabeth "Fish" Gibbs
Cathy Partridge

After months of corresponding with Cody and Cassy Coots, Abe decides to make a studio album for them. It's to feature serpent-handling songs that have been sung in Cody's church for generations. 
 
Abe enlists the help of host Ferrill Gibbs to record it, who travels from Houston to meet up with Abe in Birmingham, Alabama. Together, they make a beeline for Middlesboro, Kentucky, in Abe's white touring van. 

Once in Middlesboro, the two convert Cody’s great-grandfather’s church – Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name – into a recording studio. With a six-foot rattlesnake lounging nearby (named "Ol' Lemonhead"), Abe, Ferrill and the Coots make a fully-produced, multi-track, multi-instrumental studio album called "The Coots Duo." The rough tracks being a post-production process in Nashville, Tennessee.

Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content!

Alabama Astronaut Podcast website
 

Find us on social, too:

Alabama Astronaut Facebook

Alabama Astronaut's Twitter

Alabama Astronaut Instagram

Special thanks this episode!

Cody and Cassy Coots

Jay Smack

Brent Busby

Andrew Hamblin and the Free Pentecostal House of Prayer

Greg Coots and the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name

The story takes a turn. Jimmy Morrow, founder and preacher of Edwina Church of God in Jesus' Name, invites Abe into his home. Sensing that Abe has a “good spirit,” Jimmy shows Abe his poetry, art, and a comprehensive collection of serpent-handling history and lore. 
 
 Afterwards, Jimmy and Pam Morrow both sing songs for Abe from their faith, a capella. Meanwhile, Abe discusses with Ferrill the idea of faith at a “cost”… and why Abe finds meaning in that. 
 
 Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content!

Alabama Astronaut Podcast website
 

Find us on social, too:

Alabama Astronaut Facebook

Alabama Astronaut's Twitter

Alabama Astronaut Instagram

Special thanks this episode goes to:

Jimmy and Pam Morrow

Dr. Thomas Ryba

Barbara Gibbs Allen