Wednesday, August 25, 2010

REMINISCING … MAHALIA JACKSON

REMINISCING …

MAHALIA JACKSON

mahalia_jackson

Mahalia Jackson was an African-American gospel singer who with her powerful contralto voice, became one of the most influential gospel singers in the world and is the first Queen of Gospel Music. She recorded about 35 albums (mostly for Columbia Records) during her career, and her 45 rpm records included a dozen "golds"—million-sellers.

At the March on Washington in 1963, she sang in front of 250,000 people "How I Got Over" and "I've Been 'Buked, and I've Been Scorned". Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech there. She also sang "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" at his funeral after he was assassinated in 1968.

2012_mahalia jackson 1963

In addition to sharing her singing talent with the world, she mentored the extraordinarily gifted Aretha Franklin.

The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences created the Gospel Music or Other Religious Recording category for Jackson making her the first Gospel Music Artist to win the prestigious Grammy Award.

mahalia jackson1

A prominent namesake in her native New Orleans is the Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the Performing Arts, which was remodelled and reopened on January 17, 2009, with a gala ceremony featuring Placido Domingo, Patricia Clarkson, and the New Orleans Opera directed by Robert Dyall.

mahalia-jackson-theater

1 comment:

  1. Oh, What a great Woman of Gospel Singing, truly one of a kind!

    Since her death, I have known none greater, or equal.

    Thank you for the opportunity to comment about this Great Woman.

    ReplyDelete