13A: Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson was known as the Queen of Gospel. “Gospel” is a form of Christian music, often associated with African-American traditions. Mahalia was also known for her civil rights music. (Question 1 – What does “civil rights” mean? See answers below.)
She was born in 1911 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Question 2 – Can you find New Orleans on a map? It’s right off the Gulf of Mexico.) Her mother was a maid and laundress. They shared their house with Mahalia’s siblings and several aunts and cousins.
Mahalia Jackson grew up in this home with 13 other people.
When she was 20, Mahalia moved to Chicago, where she met Thomas A. Dorsey, who was known as the Father of Gospel Music. He became a mentor to Mahalia.
In 1947, she recorded the song “Move On Up a Little Higher.” It was so popular, stores couldn’t keep it in stock. It sold more than 8 million copies worldwide.
In 1950, she became the first gospel singer to perform at Carnegie Hall – a prestigious concert hall in New York.
She toured all over the world, including Europe. Her record company called her “The Greatest Gospel Singer in the World.” Some purists criticized her for incorporating hand-claps and jazz arrangements into her music. (Question 3 – What’s a “purist”?)
In 1958, she was invited to sing at the world-renowned Newport Jazz Festival. She was the first gospel singer to ever be invited. Watch a minute or two of this video clip.
She played a key role in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. On August 28, 1963, she performed at the historic March On Washington — a civil rights march that drew 250,000 people. This is where Dr. Martin Luther King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
She was one of Dr. King’s favorite singers. They appeared on stage together often – she would sing before Dr. King would speak. Or sometimes, singing would break out while he was talking.
He had seen her just minutes before he died. She sang at his funeral a few days later.
Here’s an interview with Mahalia Jackson in 1971. Start watching at 7:15. “God don’t need nothing but for us to love each other and help each other,” she says.
Answers:
1 — “Civil rights” means equal rights for all people, including people of color.
2 — New Orleans is in southern Louisiana. It’s known as “The Big Easy” and “Crescent City.”
3 — A “purist” is someone who believes in traditional rules and styles. They don’t like it when old customs change.