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Mahalia: A Life in Gospel Music
Mahalia Jackson’s rise from a young choir soloist in New Orleans to America’s most famous gospel singer is a stirring story of social and musical history.
Born poor in New Orleans in 1911, young Mahalia Jackson was told to
"let it out" when she sang the gospel at church each Sunday. Swaying and clapping her hands, she astonished everyone who heard her powerful voice. As her fame grew, her soulful voice helped introduce gospel music to the world and brought hope to thousands of civil rights workers who marched for equality in the 1960s. Through it all, Mahalia’s faith in God never wavered and her talent remained a shining light. Roxane Orgill’s compelling narrative, accompanied by more than fifty photographs, brings drama, depth, and immediacy to the life of the world’s most famous gospel singer.
Born poor in New Orleans in 1911, young Mahalia Jackson was told to
"let it out" when she sang the gospel at church each Sunday. Swaying and clapping her hands, she astonished everyone who heard her powerful voice. As her fame grew, her soulful voice helped introduce gospel music to the world and brought hope to thousands of civil rights workers who marched for equality in the 1960s. Through it all, Mahalia’s faith in God never wavered and her talent remained a shining light. Roxane Orgill’s compelling narrative, accompanied by more than fifty photographs, brings drama, depth, and immediacy to the life of the world’s most famous gospel singer.
- GenresMusicNonfiction
144 pages, Hardcover
First published December 31, 2001
21 people want to read
About the author
Roxane Orgill
12 books24 followersRoxane Orgill is an award-winning writer on music and the author of JAZZ DAY: THE MAKING OF A FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPH, illustrated by Francis Vallejo (Candlewick Press). JAZZ DAY earned six starred reviews and won The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Best Picture Book in 2016. Orgill has written several biographies for young readers, including SKIT-SCAT RAGGEDY CAT: ELLA FITZGERALD and FOOTWORK: THE STORY OF FRED AND ADELE ASTAIRE (Candlewick). She is also the author of DREAM LUCKY, a book for adults about big-band jazz, race, and politics in the 1930s (Smithsonian Books). She lives in Dobbs Ferry, NY.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 2, 2025
A very informative, personal biography that opens reader's eyes to the history and power of Gospel music.
October 16, 2010
From running shoe-less through the streets of New Orleans to playing Carnegie Hall and touring the world, Mahalia Jackson is one of New Orleans' brightest shining stars. Always true to her convictions, Mahalia resisted a world of temptations, sharing the word of God through her song, as the bible intended it to be!
This well put together and easy to read biography takes us through Mahalia's life from birth to death. Having heard her name all throughout New Orleans, I was curious to learn both about the woman and her music. This book jumped out at me from a teen must-read shelf a the local library and I couldn't be more pleased!
Mahalia's convictions, strength and resilience are profound. Her character shines through whether performing in small southern churches or before Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lincoln Memorial. An undeniably important woman who helped not only bring gospel music into the public conscious but did so while actively fighting the injustices, yet unsettled, that rang so true during her time.
A must read for young musicians, singers, New Orleanians or folks of the book!
:-)
This well put together and easy to read biography takes us through Mahalia's life from birth to death. Having heard her name all throughout New Orleans, I was curious to learn both about the woman and her music. This book jumped out at me from a teen must-read shelf a the local library and I couldn't be more pleased!
Mahalia's convictions, strength and resilience are profound. Her character shines through whether performing in small southern churches or before Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lincoln Memorial. An undeniably important woman who helped not only bring gospel music into the public conscious but did so while actively fighting the injustices, yet unsettled, that rang so true during her time.
A must read for young musicians, singers, New Orleanians or folks of the book!
:-)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews