Alfred Grant Karnes (February 2, 1891 – May 18, 1958) was an old time musician and Southern Gospel singer best known for his recordings at the Bristol Sessions in 1927.
Born in Bedford County, Virginia,[1] later residing in Corbin, Kentucky, Karnes was a Baptist preacher and gospel singer.
Karnes recorded six sides at the sessions, all gospel, accompanied by his own harp-guitar with the best known including "Bound For The Promised Land", "To The Work" and "Where We'll Never Grow Old".
Karnes' records are unique in being the only known use of the harp-guitar in Old Time Music and which had largely been seen as a novelty instrument of limited appeal being both difficult to play and unwieldy to hold.
Karnes and possibly Shelton are believed to have recorded behind gospel singer Ernest Phipps on his Bristol session sides.