Mahalia Jackson
Voice of spirituals
Mahalia Jackson (1911–1972) was an American gospel singer whose powerful contralto voice made her the most influential gospel artist of the twentieth century.
She refused to sing secular music despite commercial pressure, and her recordings of songs like "Move On Up a Little Higher" brought gospel to mainstream audiences.
She performed at the 1963 March on Washington just before Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
Religious songs of worship
- spiritualsEnslaved people's sacred songs
- choirOrganized group of singers
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
revival · testimony · sermon · preacher · altar · ministry · psalms · sacred
Louisiana's largest city
- LouisianaGulf Coast pelican state
- BaptistImmersion-practicing Protestant
- Great MigrationVast collective relocation
- ChicagoMajor Illinois metropolis
Southern · African American · spirituals · Pentecostal · storefront church · Deep South
Lowest female vocal range
- soulfulExpressing deep emotion
- powerfulHaving great strength
- resonantDeeply vibrating with sound
- emotiveArousing strong feelings
vibrato · acapella · dynamic · commanding · expressive · passionate · raw · thunderous
First to forge ahead
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- influentialHaving considerable effect
- legendaryFamous beyond ordinary measure
- veneratedRegarded with profound respect
hall of fame · Grammy · posthumous · heritage · cultural impact · role model · mentorship · Aretha Franklin
- March on WashingtonHistoric civil rights demonstration
- I Have a DreamFamous civil rights oration
- activismDirect effort for reform
- freedom songsMusic voicing collective liberation
segregation · integration · protest · movement · inspiration · dignity · solidarity · Montgomery
hymns
Religious songs of worship
- spiritualsEnslaved people's sacred songs
- choirOrganized group of singers
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
congregation · revival · testimony · sermon · preacher · altar · ministry · psalms · sacred · sanctuary
New Orleans
Louisiana's largest city
- LouisianaGulf Coast pelican state
- BaptistImmersion-practicing Protestant
- Great MigrationVast collective relocation
Chicago · Southern · African American · spirituals · Pentecostal · storefront church · Deep South
contralto
Lowest female vocal range
emotive · vibrato · acapella · dynamic · commanding · expressive · passionate · raw · thunderous · melismatic
trailblazer
First to forge ahead
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- influentialHaving considerable effect
- legendaryFamous beyond ordinary measure
venerated · hall of fame · Grammy · posthumous · heritage · cultural impact · role model · mentorship · Aretha Franklin · Whitney Houston
Martin Luther King Jr.
- March on WashingtonHistoric civil rights demonstration
- I Have a DreamFamous civil rights oration
- activismDirect effort for reform
freedom songs · segregation · integration · protest · movement · inspiration · dignity · solidarity · Montgomery · Selma