Mahalia Jackson in the studio
The groundbreaking TV production from 1961
The television series "Mahalia Jackson Sings" marked a turning point in Mahalia Jackson's career in 1961. The extensive production of short musical vignettes brought Mahalia Jackson an audience of millions through nationwide broadcasts and contributed significantly to her international breakthrough.
The renowned photographer Leigh Wiener documented the work behind the scenes in an impressive manner.
I would like to present a small excerpt from it to you!
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“Photographing people is unquestionably the most difficult form of still photography there is. It’s the only area of still photography where the photographer must be a very keen student of psychology. A portrait is not a duplication of a face.“
“A portrait is the revelation of a person. You want to tell something about the person.“
Leigh Wiener
Mahalia Jackson and Irving Townsend, the long-time producer at Columbia Records.
Mahalia lost in thought during a break from filming
From left to right:
Louise Overall Weaver on the Hammond organ, Mahalia Jackson, an unknown young man (probably a sound engineer), and pianist Mildred Falls.
Mahalia in one of her typical poses...
Attentive and focused before recording