Reverend Edward W. Clayborn was an American musician, known as the "Guitar Evangelist". He sang a form of blues gospel similar to Blind Willie Johnson. Clayborn recorded forty songs, for Vocalion Records between 1926 and 1930. In The Ganymede Takeover, the San Franciscan author Philip K. Dick, a record enthusiast, has a character state that "True Religion", sung by Clayborn was one of the first jazz recordings.
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By Steve Leggett
Rev. Edward W. Clayborn (he is often listed as just Edward Clayborn, with the surname sometimes spelled Clayburn or Claeburn) billed himself as "the Guitar Evangelist," and indeed he was, singing a kind of blues gospel not unlike the work of the better known Blind Willie Johnson. A brilliant guitarist and slide player, Clayborn recorded some 40 tracks for Vocalion Records between 1926 and 1930.