Gwendolyn Lightner

Gwendolyn Rosetta (Cooper) Capps Lightner (1925 – 22. August 1999)

was an influential pianist and musician who made a significant contribution to gospel music. Between 1968 and 1972, she was Mahalia Jackson's pianist.

Gwendolyn Lighter was born in Brookport, Illinois, in 1925 and showed exceptional musical talent from an early age. She began playing the piano at the age of eight and accompanied church services and school performances at the age of ten. These early experiences laid the foundation for her remarkable career. Gwendolyn Lightner was the daughter of Marcella and Arthur Gwynn Cooper, who lived on the South Side of Chicago. Her father was a pianist and became trustee of the First Church of Deliverance, while her mother sang in the choir. “Gwen,” as she was commonly known, was married to Peter Singleton Lightner (1927-2003) and had a family.

In the early 1940s, she moved to Chicago, a hub of the burgeoning gospel music scene. There she continued her musical education at the renowned Lyon and Healy Academy of Music. This period was formative, as she came into contact with influential figures in the gospel scene such as Kenneth Morris, Sallie Martin, Roberta Martin, Emma Jackson, and, of course, Mahalia Jackson. Her encounter with Emma Jackson in particular was to play an important role in her early career, as she became her protégée.

The next significant step took her to Los Angeles, California, with the Emma L. Jackson Singers. There she quickly established herself as a talented pianist. Her musical education included formal classical studies as well as additional lessons at the DuSable High School Glee Club and in the High Jinks variety shows. She also learned gospel technique in the music department of the First Church of Deliverance.

An important meeting place during this period was Mahalia Jackson's beauty salon, which was an informal gathering place for established and aspiring gospel artists. Gwendolyn Cooper Lightner was often to be found there and had kept in touch with Mahalia since visiting the salon with Emma Jackson. A highlight of her career was the period from 1968 to 1972, when Gwendolyn Lightner was Mahalia's pianist. However, she had occasionally stood in for Mildred Falls before that.

When Mildred's health declined, Gwendolyn shared the piano parts with Edward Robinson, who replaced Mildred Falls, while Louise Overall Weaver played the organ. Later, with the hiring of Charles Clency as organist, Edward Robinson continued to share the piano work with Gwendolyn Lightner. This arrangement suited Mahalia's preferences and Columbia Records' desire for accompanists with different skills.

Ms. Valerie Nero, Mahalia Jackson's grandniece, recalls that Mildred Falls taught Gwendolyn piano at Mahalia's house. This suggests that Mildred, due to her declining health, essentially chose her successor and passed on her experience to Gwendolyn. This can also be heard in her playing, as she adopted many elements from Mildred and then adapted some of them to her own style.

This collaboration brought Gwendolyn Lightner international recognition. She accompanied Mahalia Jackson on numerous world tours, including to Los Angeles, Bermuda, Japan, Liberia, Munich, and Montreal, as well as on countless television appearances. Even after her time with Mahalia Jackson, Gwendolyn Lightner remained a central figure in the gospel music scene in Los Angeles and beyond. Her musical versatility and commitment to promoting gospel music were evident in various areas:

Session musician
She was a sought-after session musician and worked with other notable gospel artists, including The Pilgrim Travelers, The Soul Stirrers, and Brother Joe May. She was also a longtime house organist for the gospel television program “Jubilee Showcase.” In addition, she was a founding member of Robert Anderson's Good Shepherd Singers and participated in their first recordings.

For over 50 years, she was a pianist for the National Baptist Convention U.S.A.

Music Director
She held leadership positions with the Western Baptist State Convention and the Congress of Christian Education.

Music teacher
For nearly 30 years, she taught music at Victory Baptist Day School, inspiring generations of musicians.