Mahalia Jackson, born in New Orleans in 1911, was a devout Christian and widely regarded as the best gospel singer of all time. She began singing in church at an early age and moved to Chicago at 16. Her first recording contract came in 1937, but success eluded her until she toured with composer Thomas A. Dorsey. Jackson became a widely recognized gospel singer in 1954 and never turned to secular music. She was also a prominent female presence during the civil rights movement and performed at the 1963 rally where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his infamous “I Have a Dream” speech. Jackson died of heart failure on January 27, 1972, and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Grammy that same year. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and honored with a postage stamp in 1998.
Mahalia Jackson was an American gospel music singer and is widely regarded as the best gospel singer of all time. Some of her most popular recordings include “Silent Night”, “Go Tell it on the Mountain”, “There Will be Peace in the Valley” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”. A devout Christian, Mahalia Jackson has become very accomplished with numerous hits to her credit throughout her career.
Born in New Orleans in 1911, Mahalia Jackson grew up in Louisiana in a small home with her mother, brother, and many extended family members. Jackson loved to sing in church and even at an early age her free flowing gospel style was evident. At age 16 she moved to Chicago and joined the choir at Greater Salem Baptist Church. Mahalia Jackson has performed as a soloist in churches and at funerals. Although Mahalia Jackson’s lively, energetic renditions of songs were sometimes frowned upon by more formal churches—largely due to the apparent jazz and blues undertones in her vocal style—many smaller, forward-thinking churches had begun to take notice. .
Jackson’s first recording contract came in 1937 on the Decca Records label, but success eluded her until she toured gospel tents and churches with composer Thomas A. Dorsey. As Mahalia Jackson’s popularity grew, she was offered a second recording contract and finally in 1954, under Columbia Records, she Jackson became a widely recognized gospel singer. In 1958, Mahalia Jackson’s recording of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” went to number 69 on the Billboard Top 100, an unusual feat for a spiritual song.
Never turning to secular music, Mahalia Jackson sang gospel throughout her career. Succeeding in a musical genre that was not traditionally mainstream in popular culture, Jackson traveled the variety show circuit and made public appearances. She performed at the Ed Sullivan show in 1956 and sang at John F. Kennedy’s inaugural ball.
In addition to her popularity as a gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson was a prominent female presence during the civil rights movement. She performed at the 1963 rally where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his infamous “I Have a Dream” speech. She mahalia Jackson died of heart failure on January 27, 1972. The same year she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Grammy.
Even in death, Jackson was not forgotten. In 1997, Mahalia Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 1998, the United States Postal Service honored Jackson with a postage stamp. Jackson is buried in Providence Memorial Park where her headstone reads “The World’s Greatest Gospel Singer.”
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