Flora Molton sang what she called spiritual and truth music, combining traditional religious songs with her own compositions. Born in Louisa County, the daughter of the Reverend and Mrs. William Rollins, she began singing in church. After hearing slide guitar played with a knife at local parties, she adopted the style to accompany herself. In 1937, she moved to Washington, D.C., to make her living playing music on the street, where generations came to know and love her. She also performed at festivals and clubs, recorded three albums, and appeared in two documentary films.