Travel - Tour
Mahalia Jackson, the undisputed "Queen of Gospel," was known not only for her extraordinary voice, but also for her tireless travels, which made her a global ambassador for her music and her message. From the early 1930s until shortly before her death in the 1970s, she crossed continents and countries to share her heartfelt gospel and spirituals with an ever-growing audience. Her travels were more than just concert tours; they were pilgrimages of faith and cultural understanding.
The roots of the journey: Focus on the USA
Mahalia began traveling within the United States in the 1930s. She often traveled from city to city with Thomas Dorsey, literally living out of a suitcase. Her performances took her to numerous African American communities in cities such as Detroit, Newark, Philadelphia, and New York City. She visited her hometown of New Orleans regularly, especially at Christmas, while Chicago became her permanent base from the moment she arrived – it was from there that she managed her career and gave countless concerts.
As her fame grew in the 1950s, her US tours intensified. In the winter and spring of 1953, she toured the South and West, stopping in Memphis, Little Rock, Dallas, and Oakland, California. A highlight of her national travels was undoubtedly August 28, 1963, when she sang before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and hundreds of thousands of people at the March on Washington—an iconic moment in the civil rights movement. In later years, such as 1966 and 1970, she undertook extensive US tours that took her from Virginia to Miami Beach, from Newport, Rhode Island, to Omaha, Nebraska, and even to television appearances in New York and Philadelphia. She sang for President Eisenhower in Abilene, Kansas (1959) and actively campaigned for open housing in Chicago in 1966. Even health problems did not stop her; in 1971, she flew to Salt Lake City, Utah, hoping that the dry climate would be good for her health.
The conquest of Europe: From Paris to the Vatican
Her international breakthrough came in 1951 when she received the Charles Cros Academie Award for an Apollo recording in France. This sparked her interest in a European tour, which she embarked on for the first time in 1952. Her six-week trip took her through several European countries:
France (Paris)
She filled the famous Salle Pleyel and gave an incredible 21 encores.
Denmark
Here, her song "Silent Night" became a bestseller and she was showered with flowers and gifts.
Sweden
The famous concert in a church was also recorded here and is available on DVD, for example. There she performed an impressive version of "We Shall Overcome," with an introduction spoken by her that sounds like a call to action, a wake-up call to humanity.
Italy (Rome, Naples) and Vatican City
A particularly memorable moment was her audience with Pope John XXIII at the Vatican. However, the tour was also marked by setbacks; she fell ill and had to be hospitalized in Munich, Germany, requiring her early return to the US for surgery.
Nevertheless, she was always drawn back to Europe. In 1961, she embarked on another European tour. This was followed in the spring of 1968 by a month-long tour that took her to London, Sweden, Paris, and across Germany (Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt), where she even received a gold medal in Berlin. In Switzerland (Basel, Zurich), she thrilled audiences so much that she sang up to 35 songs because the audience wouldn't let her leave the stage. She also performed in Belgium and Holland (Brussels, Amsterdam). Mahalia was surprised and impressed by the religiousness of the people there.
Exotic destinations: Middle East, Asia, and Africa
Mahalia's wanderlust knew no bounds. On her first European tour in 1952, she traveled to the Middle East, visiting Egypt (Alexandria), Lebanon (Beirut), Syria (Damascus), Jordan (Jordan River), and Israel (Dead Sea, Jericho, Bethlehem, Jerusalem) – a spiritual journey to the roots of her faith.
Her last major world tour in 1971 took her even further afield:
Japan
Here she met the Empress of Japan at the Imperial Palace and sang Negro spirituals. She visited famous shrines and temples and immersed herself in Japanese culture.
Indien
Sent by the US State Department as a "goodwill ambassador," she met the Gyalmo of Sikkim in Calcutta and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in New Delhi, who was deeply impressed by Mahalia's singing.
The African continent was also on their itinerary.
In 1970, she made her first trip to Africa to perform in Liberia on the 75th birthday of Liberian President William Tubman. Prior to that, in 1966, she had already received the "Grand Prix du Disque" at the First World Festival of Black Arts in Dakar, Senegal.
The Caribbean and Canada
In the early 1960s, Mahalia Jackson went on several tours. Among other places, she sang in a church in Canada. A tour of Australia was planned but did not materialize. In March 1968, she traveled to the Bahamas, where she had many interesting encounters. This was followed in 1970 by an extensive tour of the Caribbean islands, including St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Vincent, Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad. In Jamaica in particular, she demonstrated her social commitment by offering a free concert for underprivileged residents.
The legacy of travel
Mahalia Jackson's travels were an integral part of her career and legacy. She was not only a singer, but also a traveling ambassador of gospel music who crossed borders and touched people of all cultures and backgrounds with her music. Her ability to form deep emotional connections with her audience, whether in a small church in the US or a large concert hall in Europe or Asia, is a testament to the universal power of her message. Until her final tour in 1971, which took her back to Germany before health problems forced her to return home, Mahalia Jackson remained a tireless traveler, filling the world with the joy and comfort of gospel music.
The United States was Mahalia Jackson's home base and the starting point of her musical journey.
Early years (1930s)
She began touring the US at an early age, singing in churches and tent shows, often in cities with large African-American communities such as Detroit, Newark (New Jersey), Philadelphia, and New York City. She traveled extensively and lived out of a suitcase, so to speak.
Home and base
She regularly visited New Orleans, her birthplace, including at Christmas. After moving to Chicago, this became her home and the center of her business activities.
Extensive tours and important performances
1953
Tour of Memphis, Little Rock, Dallas, and Oakland, California.
Later, there were further general mentions of trips to California.
1954 / 1955
Auditions and meetings with agents in Chicago.
1959
Mahalia sang for President Eisenhower in Abilene, Kansas.
1963
Mahalia's unforgettable performance at the March on Washington in Washington, D.C., for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
1964
First major US concert tour.
1966
Concert tour through Virginia, Miami Beach, and Cincinnati. She also participated in demonstrations for open housing in Chicago.
1967
Auftritte an der Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, und im Lincoln Center in New York City. Mahalia sang bei einer Israel Bond Rally im Chicago Opera House.
1969
Mahalia sang in Mississippi on Thanksgiving at the request of Mayor Charles Evers.
1970
An extensive US tour with stops in Omaha, several concerts in New York, Philadelphia, Newport, Detroit, and the Berkshire Music Barn. In August, appearances on the Dick Cavett Show and the Mike Douglas Show in New York and Philadelphia were followed by concerts in Portland, Maine, and at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.
1971
Return to Chicago for a "Miracle Tent Revival." Travel to Salt Lake City, Utah (she recovered and underwent treatment), followed by performances in Baton Rouge.
Europe opened the doors to international fame for Mahalia Jackson and became one of her most frequently visited continents.
1951
She received the Charles Cros Academie Award in France, which sparked her interest in touring Europe.
1952
First official European tour
Frankreich (Paris)
Mahalia filled the Salle Pleyel and gave an incredible 21 encores.
Switzerland
One of many stops.
Denmark
Her song "Silent Night" became a bestseller there, and she received numerous honors.
Italy (Rome, Naples) & Vatican City
Mahalia and Mildre had an audience with Pope John XXIII. They also visited St. Peter's Basilica.
Middle East (as part of the tour)
Mahalia traveled to Egypt (Alexandria), Lebanon (Beirut), Syria (Damascus), Jordan (Jordan River), and Israel (Dead Sea, Jericho, Bethlehem, Jerusalem).
Germany (Munich)
Mahalia fell ill during the tour and had to be hospitalized in Munich, forcing her to cancel the tour and return to Chicago for surgery.
1961
Probably the best and most successful tour ever, with a very special concert in Hamburg.
1966
A revival of the successful tour from 1961.
1967
A planned European tour was canceled after three performances, and she was again hospitalized in Munich, Germany.
Frühjahr 1968
One-month tour of Europe
England (London)
Royal Albert Hall
Sweden
Famous concert with her rendition of "We Shall Overcome" and speech.
France (Paris)
Performed in a packed concert hall and then spoke with French monks about gospel music.
Germany (Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt)
Mahalia received a gold medal in Berlin. There were also plans to set up a German office for her planned label, Hallelujah Records.
Switzerland (Basel, Zurich)
The audience in Switzerland was so enthusiastic that she sang up to 35 songs!
Austria (Vienna)
A planned concert had to be canceled due to scheduling conflicts. Mahalia never performs in Austria.
The Netherlands and Belgium (Amsterdam, Brussels)
Mahalia stellte fest, dass die Menschen dort genauso religiös waren wie in den USA.
1971
Last major world tour (ending in Germany)
The tour began in September with concerts in Hanover, Frankfurt, Berlin, and Munich.
Mahalia Jackson was admitted to hospital in Munich, which sadly marked the end of her last tour.
Her last major world tour also took her to Asia, where she acted as a "goodwill ambassador."
Japan (April 1971):
Mahalia met the Empress of Japan at the Imperial Palace and sang for the imperial family.
She visited the Meiji Shrine, gardens, old palaces, and Buddhist temples in Tokyo.
Indien (1971)
Various concerts and sightseeing tours
Calcutta
There she met Hope Cooke, the Gyalmo of Sikkim, and sang in St. Paul's Cathedral.
New-Delhi
There she met Prime Minister Indira Gandhi privately backstage after a concert that Gandhi attended.
Bombay
Concert
Thailand (Bangkok)
Trip with a visit to Bangkok.
Mahalia Jackson expanded her reach to the Caribbean and the African continent.
Caribbean
March 1968: Trip to the Bahamas.
1970: Tour of the Caribbean islands, including St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Vincent, Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad. Gave six concerts there and offered a free concert for underprivileged residents in Jamaica.
Afrika
1970: Her first trip to Africa, on the occasion of the 75th birthday of Liberian President William Tubman in Liberia (Maryland County, Cape Palmas).
1966: She received the “Grand Prix du Disque“ at the First World Festival of Black Arts in Dakar, Senegal.
Even these distant continents were part of their itineraries.
Canada
Early 1960s: Toured there. 1968: A concert in Montreal was canceled due to bad weather.
Australia
This destination was discussed repeatedly, but it was never realized. Mahalia has never been to Australia.