Short biography
Mahalia Jackson was born on October 26, 1911, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Mahalia Jackson grew up in poverty and began singing in church at an early age. Her powerful voice and emotional singing style quickly made her a popular gospel singer in New Orleans.
IIn November 1931, she moved to Chicago, where she continued her musical career. She joined the Greater Salem Baptist Church Choir and began working with the well-known gospel composer Thomas A. Dorsey. In the 1940s, Mahalia Jackson gained national fame through her performances in churches and concert halls and through her radio broadcasts. Her first big hit, "Move On Up a Little Higher," was released in 1947 and sold millions.
In the 1950s, Mahalia Jackson signed with Columbia Records and produced some of her most successful albums, including "The World's Greatest Gospel Singer." She performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and toured throughout the United States and Europe. Harry Lenetska, her agent, played a key role in her success. He recognized her potential and booked her in various theaters to reach a wider audience.
Mahalia Jackson was not only an outstanding singer, but also a committed civil rights activist. She supported Dr. Martin Luther King and sang at many civil rights rallies, including the historic "March on Washington" in 1963.
Mahalia Jackson died on January 27, 1972, in Chicago at the age of 60. She left behind a rich musical legacy and is considered the most important and influential gospel singer of all time. Her faith played a central role in her life and music, and she saw herself as a "singer for God."
Important aspects of her career
- Unique singing style
Mahalia's powerful voice, her emotional interpretations, and her ability to convey the essence of gospel music made her an extraordinary singer. Her articulation, phrasing, and treatment of the lyrics were unusual, even extraordinary, and helped her create her own style. She was able to captivate audiences with her powerful stage presence, but also move thousands of people to emotion and awe in the manner of a classical concert singer.
- Influence on gospel music
Mahalia trug maßgeblich dazu bei, die Gospelmusik zu popularisieren und sie einem breiteren Publikum zugänglich zu machen.
- Collaboration with Mildred Falls
The long-time pianist Mildred Falls was the most important musical partner and friend throughout her career. She understood perfectly how to respond to Mahalia's musical freedom, which varied from concert to concert. She had a wonderfully profound piano tone and was able to bring the music to life with targeted accents without playing herself into the foreground. Her interpretations and improvisations were entirely focused on accompanying the songs.
- Commitment to civil rights
Mahalia Jackson was a staunch civil rights activist and used her voice to fight for equality and justice. She did not consider herself a political person, but was a staunch advocate for basic human rights and equality.
© Mirrorpix/Alamy
Mahalia Jackson in 1952
Further information
Early years in New Orleans
Mahalia grew up in a neighborhood of New Orleans known as "Nigger Town." Her musical journey began in church, where she sang in the choir from an early age and absorbed the traditional gospel songs and spirituals that would later become her trademark. New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, shaped Mahalia's musical style, among other things. The "bounce," a rhythmic element found in her music, can be traced back to the lively rhythms of New Orleans jazz and brass bands.
The move to Chicago and rise to fame
In November 1931, at the age of 20, Mahalia moved to Chicago to live with her aunt. She found work as a laundress and domestic servant, but her passion for gospel music remained unbroken. She joined the Greater Salem Baptist Church Choir and began performing in churches and at gospel concerts around the city. In Chicago, Jackson met the well-known gospel composer and pianist Thomas A. Dorsey, who had a major influence on her musical development. Dorsey recognized Mahalia's talent and encouraged her to develop her own emotional style, which was influenced by traditional gospel songs, blues elements, and her personal faith. Mahalia's breakthrough came in 1947 with the release of the song "Move On Up a Little Higher." The record sold millions and made her an overnight star on the gospel music scene. The success of "Move On Up a Little Higher" paved the way for Mahalia's successful career. She signed with Apollo Records and began recording and touring regularly.
The “Mahalia Jackson Show“ and success on the radio
CBS launched a major advertising campaign in the fall of 1954 to promote Mahalia Jackson's debut on radio. She was featured in all the major black newspapers. From her humble beginnings in abject poverty in New Orleans, through her deep religious faith, a powerful voice that had never received formal training, unglamorous work in various service jobs, to a catalog of commercially successful recordings for Apollo that "revolutionized the field of gospel singing" and ultimately lucrative success through the imprimatur of CBS/Columbia.
Columbia Records and international recognition
In November 1954, Mahalia Jackson signed with Columbia Records and began working with renowned producer George Avakian. Avakian recognized Jackson's potential to reach a wider audience and produced her albums with high-quality arrangements and production standards. Although Mahalia preferred traditional gospel songs, Avakian was eager to modernize her sound and make it accessible to a broader audience. This occasionally led to creative tensions between the two. Despite these challenges, the partnership between her and Avakian was extremely successful. Avakian produced some of Jackson's most famous albums, including "The World's Greatest Gospel Singer" and "Bless This House." These albums helped Jackson reach an international audience and cement her status as the "Queen of Gospel."
Commitment to civil rights
In addition to her musical career, Mahalia Jackson was a staunch civil rights activist. She was a close friend of Martin Luther King Jr. and supported the civil rights movement with her music and her voice. She sang at numerous rallies and marches, including the famous March on Washington in 1963, where Martin Luther King asked her to sing "I've Been 'Buked, and I've Been Scorned" before he delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech. Mahalia also sang at King's funeral in 1968.
Privat
Mahalia was married twice. Her first husband was Isaac Hockenhull, a chemist. They married in 1936 and divorced in 1941. In 1960, she married jazz musician Sigmund Galloway, who played the saxophone and flute. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1967.
Later years and her legacy
In the 1960s, Mahalia continued to tour the world, performing in front of millions of people. She appeared on television, starred in films, and received numerous awards for her music and activism.
Mahalia Jackson died on January 27, 1972, in Chicago at the age of 60.
His death sparked worldwide mourning and was mourned as a great loss to the music world and the civil rights movement.
Mahalia Jackson's legacy lives on today. Her music continues to inspire generations of singers and musicians, and her commitment to social justice serves as an example for activists around the world.
The values that Mahalia stood for and fought for throughout her life are more relevant today than ever before!
©Thilo Plaesser