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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZJACKSON, Mahalia(b 26 Oct. '11, New Orleans LA; d 27 Jan. '72, Chicago) Gospel singer, probably the greatest of all: her rhythmic feeling and big, powerful and beautiful contralto could only be (and was) compared to that of Bessie Smith, but she always refused to be associated with blues or jazz; later sang secular/inspirational material such as 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. Moved to Chicago age 16 with her family; worked as a maid, nurse, laundress; turned down offer from Earl Hines, joined Greater Salem Baptist Church Choir: a quintet was formed featuring her which toured churches. (See also entry for Gospel Music.) She continued to work, opening a beauty salon, flower shop, eventually going into the property business, but her fame as a gospel singer was world-wide. First records for Decca '37, four sides accompanied by Estelle Allen on piano and organ incl. 'God's Gonna Separate The Wheat From The Tares'; later records for Apollo incl. her own 'Move On Up A Little Higher', said to have sold a million. Signed with Columbia '54; recorded with Percy Faith etc; sang at Newport Jazz Festival '57--8 ('The Lord's Prayer' at the end of Jazz On A Summer's Day, film of '58 festival); sang in both studio and Newport performances '58 of Duke Ellington's Black, Brown And Beige (saying that she regarded Ellington's band as a 'sacred institution' rather than a jazz band). She appeared in film St Louis Blues '58 (biopic of W. C. Handy starring Nat Cole). Toured the world; often on TV '50--60s, incl. Ed Sullivan Show; sang at inauguration of John Kennedy '61. LP on Apollo: No Matter How You Pray; Columbia albums: The World's Greatest Gospel Singer, In Concert, My Faith, Mighty Fortress, Best- Loved Hymns Of Doctor King, Right Out Of The Church, Bless This House, two-disc compilations The Great Mahalia Jackson, America's Greatest Hymns; also Amazing Grace and Newport '58 from Columbia Special Products, I Sing Because I'm Happy (two vols) on Folkways. She worried about her close friend Aretha Franklin, who sang 'Precious Lord' at Jackson's funeral as Jackson had done at that of Martin Luther King. Biography Just Mahalia, Baby by Laurraine Goreau published '75 by Word Books. |