Selling an estimated 22 million records throughout her career, Mahalia Jackson established herself as one of the most prominent gospel vocalists of the twentieth century. Born in New Orleans in 1911, she spent four decades as a singer and musician, effectively bridging the gap between traditional Protestant hymns and the contemporary sounds of the American church.
Early Development and Influences
Raised in New Orleans, Jackson was a member of the Baptist church, where she began singing in a children's choir at age four. She developed her rhythmic approach by listening to both the hymns of her own congregation and the more exuberant, beat-driven music of a nearby Pentecostal church. After relocating to Chicago as an adolescent, she joined the Johnson Singers. Her vocal style was further refined through the influence of composer Thomas Dorsey and blues singer Bessie Smith, whose delivery she adapted to religious music.
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For 15 years, Jackson sustained herself through various odd jobs while performing at funerals and revivals, a period she described as being a fish and bread singer. Her national breakthrough occurred in 1947 with the release of the recording Move On Up a Little Higher. The song sold two million copies and reached the number-two position on Billboard charts, marking a significant first for the gospel genre. She subsequently became the first gospel artist to tour Europe, performing in front of diverse audiences worldwide.
Civil Rights and Public Life
Jackson leveraged her public platform to advocate for social change during a period of pervasive racial segregation. She was a committed supporter of the civil rights movement and a close friend of Martin Luther King Jr. Her participation included performing at fundraisers and the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Additionally, she maintained a high profile in secular settings, including a performance of the national anthem at the 1961 Inaugural Ball for President John F. Kennedy.
Awards and Legacy
Throughout her career, she resisted pressure to perform secular music, remaining focused on gospel despite high-paying offers. Her contributions were recognized with numerous honors, including the 1961 Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance and a 1972 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and is also honored in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Jackson died in 1972 in Evergreen Park and is buried at Providence Memorial Park and Mausoleum.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, New Orleans
- Died: 1972, Evergreen Park
- Primary Occupation: Gospel singer
- Citizenship: United States
- 1967 Honor: Order of Lincoln
- 1972 Award: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Burial site: Providence Memorial Park and Mausoleum
Questions readers ask
What was the scale of her commercial success?
She sold an estimated 22 million records, with her 1947 hit Move On Up a Little Higher selling two million copies alone.
Did she perform secular music?
While she performed for secular audiences and appeared on television, she turned down high-paying opportunities to record secular music, maintaining a strict focus on gospel.
Achievements
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award — 1972
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — 1997
- Worked as gospel singer, musician and religious leader
