Mahalia Jackson

vocals · 1911–1972 · New Orleans

Trained in Chicago by Thomas A. Dorsey, who nicknamed her "the empress of gospel singers", she became in 1954 the first gospel artist signed by Columbia. Invited by Duke Ellington on "Black, Brown and Beige" (1958), she sang at the 1963 March on Washington at the request of Martin Luther King.

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Styles

• Gospel
• Blues, spirituals, work songs

Landmark tracks

• Move On Up a Little Higher (1947)
• Come Sunday (1958)

Cited in 2 radio episodes

• Mar 31, 2026: Mahalia Jackson at Newport 58' (Jazzlive, TSF Jazz, in French)
• Jan 27, 2022: MAHALIA JACKSON (Made in China, TSF Jazz, in French)

Sources

• Source

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