Have you heard of Mahalia Jackson? She was a singer who had a beautiful voice. She was known as the “Queen of Gospel.”

Mahalia Jackson was born on October 26, 1911 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her original name was Halie Jackson. She had a disease called genuvarum or bowed legs. Doctors wanted to perform a surgery to break her legs, but her aunt didn't approve of that idea. Her mother, Charity, would massage Mahalia's legs with greasy dishwater. Charity died when Mahalia was only 6 years old. After Charity died they started calling Halie Mahaliah to represent that she was the boss of the family. Mahalia's aunt, Aunt Duke, adopted Mahalia and her brother. She would make the both of them work. When they would clean the house Aunt Duke would use the "white glove" method. If the house was not cleaned properly she would get beat with a cat-o-nine-tails.

Mahalia loved to sing. She started singing at the Local Mount Moriah Baptist Church. In 1972, when Mahalia was 16, she moved to Chicago, Illinois. When she made her first Sunday Church service she sang "Hand Me Down My Favorite Trumpet, Gabriel." After that she was able to join the Greater Salem Baptist Church Choir. She later started singing in other churches with the Johnson Gospel Singers. The song "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" became her signature song.

She later married Isaac Hoclenhull in 1936. But in 1941 they got divorced. Mahalia's first records were recorded on May 21, 1937 when she was 26. In 1950 she became the first gospel singer to perform at New York's Carnegie Hall. She later started touring Europe in 1952. Critics called her the "world's greatest gospel singer." In Paris she was known as "Angel of Peace." The last album she made was "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah."She later ended her singing career in 1971 in a concert in Germany. Mahalia created a Scholarship Foundation. She was later rewarded with a Silver Dove Award. She continued to stay in Chicago. She opened a beauty parlor and a florist shop. Later on January 27, 1972 at age 60 she died. She died from heart failure and diabetes. There were over 56,000 people who attended her funeral. She was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1978 she was entered in the Gospel Music Association’s Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Mahalia Jackson has inspired me in many ways. Her music has made me feel so good. Her voice has a special grace that always makes me feel happy. It is amazing that she only sang gospel music. Many people looked up to her including me.

Mahalia Jackson was a wonderful singer who inspired many people with her beautiful voice and her astonishing music. She is a person who should be honored during Black History Month, and she is.

Mahalia Jackson's Popular Songs

"What Child Is This"
"How I Got Over"
"Trouble of the World"
"Silent Night"
"Go Tell It on the Mountain"
"Amazing Grace"
"Move On Up A Little Higher"
"Take My Hand, Precious Lord"
"Remember Me"
"Joshua Jericho"
"Holding My Saviour's Hands"
"Roll Jordan, Roll"
"The Upper Room"
"We Shall Overcome"
"I'm on My Way to Canaan"
"You'll Never Walk Alone"
"His Eye is on the Sparrow"