He wanted to write music about his new faith, and proclaim his love for Jesus Christ through his original music. Caterer. BlackPast.org is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. A small donation would help us keep this accessible to all. Among the elite class of caterers in Philadelphia during much of the nineteenth century, Thomas J. Dorsey ranked as one of the most successful. Thomas A. Dorsey, often called the Father of Gospel Music, migrated from Atlanta to Chicago as a young man, thus exemplifying the experience of many southern blacks of his day. Born into a preacher’s family in rural Georgia, Thomas Dorsey began playing the family organ at age six.  At eight he started writing his own music, and by 13, was playing piano in Atlanta, accompanying some of the famous jazz artists of the day.  In 1916, Dorsey moved to Chicago to study at the Chicago School of Composition and Arranging.  Although his beginnings were in the jazz and blues tradition, he was also influenced by music he heard through his religious affiliations.  His first attempts to combine the two styles, which he called the “gospel song,” were met with resistance, however, because of their heavy blues influence.  “Several times I have been thrown out of some of the best churches,” Dorsey remembered in a 1980 interview.  “But they just didn’t understand.”. Thomas Dorsey was born in Villa Rica in 1899 and grew up listening to shape-note singing and spirituals in church. Dorsey was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1982, and he was also the first African-American elected to enter the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Thomas A. Dorsey was a blues pianist by profession who wanted to write music praising God when he became a Christian himself. Thomas A. Dorsey originally did It's Tight Like That, You Can't Get That Stuff No More, Old Ship of Zion, Corrine Corrina and other songs. Thomas Dorsey is often called the father of Gospel Music. The song has been performed masterfully by the likes of Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin and in modern times by Ledisi for the “Selma” soundtrack. Thomas A. Dorsey is credited as Pianist, the father of black gospel music , Precious Lord . African American gospel music began with Thomas A. Dorsey’s desire to create a new music to praise God. Composer, songwriter, singer, pianist, music publisher. Thomas Andrew Dorsey was born in the town of Villa Rica to a minister father and piano teacher mother, who taught him the instrument. "Take My Hand, Precious Lord": Thomas Dorsey, known as the "father of African-American gospel music," writes "Take My Hand, Precious Lord." It was said to be Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s favorite song. However, a few months later -- while traveling with Theodore R. Frye to organize a choir in St. Louis -- tragedy struck when Dorsey discovered that his wife had died while giving birth to their son, who himself died two days later. A high point for Dorsey’s music came when the legendary Red Foley and the Foggy Mountain Boys, stars of the Grand Ole’ Opry, recorded “Peace in the Valley,” which topped The Lucky Strike Hit Parade in 1948. Thomas Andrew Dorsey (July 1, 1899 – January 23, 1993) was known as "the father of black gospel music" and was at one time so closely associated with the field that songs written in the new style … Courtesy of Hogan Jazz Archive, Tulane University, African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African Americans and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Alma Stephenson Dever Page on Afro-britons, With Pride: Uplifting LGBTQ History On Blackpast, Preserving Martin Luther King County’s African American History, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, African American Newspapers, Magazines, and Journals, BlackPast.Org Video – A Story of Dreams, Education - Historically Black Colleges (HBCU), http://www.umich.edu/~afroammu/standifer/dorsey.html. As gospel grew in scope and popularity, in particular the blues-influenced style Dorsey introduced to the masses, he began traveling the nation organizing choirs and teaching chorus arrangements. Thomas A. Dorsey was a thriving blues musician who was struck by tragedy in the thirties, thus inspiring him to focus primarily on religious music. His father was a Baptist minister, and his mother worked as a music teacher and served as the church organist. He began studying formally at the Chicago College of Composition and Arrangement in order to obtain union scale wage as a musician in the city. Thomas Andrew Dorsey (July 1, 1899 – January 23, 1993) was known as “the father of black gospel music” and was at one time so closely associated with the field that songs written in the new style were sometimes known as “dorseys.” [2] Earlier in his life he was a leading blues pianist known as Georgia Tom. Dorsey learned to play piano as a young man and in the 1920s was known for playing the blues. He was 93 years old. Thomas Andrew Dorsey (July 1, 1899 – January 23, 1993) was an American musician, composer, and Christian evangelist influential in the development of early blues and 20th-century gospel music. The melody is credited to Dorsey, drawn extensively from the 1844 hymn tune, "Maitland". " Thomas A. Dorsey was a thriving blues musician who was struck by tragedy in the thirties, thus inspiring him to focus primarily on religious music. This inspired Dorsey to establish the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, serving as its president for six decades. "My wife, Nettie, was about to bear our first child. His work joins gospel and blues music, two genres notable in Black culture, and becomes a leading influence in the fledgling genre of gospel blues. In the next years, Dorsey spent much of his time on tour and became a successful Black music publisher. Known as the “Father of Gospel Music,” the Georgia native was born on July 1st, 1899. Thomas A. Dorsey was a thriving blues musician who was struck by tragedy in the thirties, thus inspiring him to focus primarily on religious music. He was also influenced by blues icons Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. VIDEO: Happy Birthday Thomas Dorsey > Today in Black History, 7/1/2012. Free Shipping Over $49. HEAD BACK TO THE BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM HOMEPAGE. 23.Black Angel Blues 24.Things ‘Bout Coming My Way 25.Denver Blues. Help . After his first wife and son died in childbirth he wrote his most famous song, "Precious Lord Take My Hand." Born into a preacher’s family in rural Georgia, Thomas Dorsey began playing the family organ at age six. 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Thomas Dorsey was born in Villa Rica, Georgia, on July 1, 1899. In March 1982, he was the first black person elected to the Gospel Music Association’s Living Hall of Fame, and in August 1982, the Thomas A. Dorsey … During the early 1930s, Thomas Dorsey created gospel music ... Dorsey found refuge in downtown Atlanta's black community. Thomas Andrew Dorsey (July 1, 1899 – January 23, 1993) was known as "the father of black gospel music" and was at one time so closely associated with the field that songs written in the new style were sometimes known as "dorseys." Black History in Gospel Music Fact – Thomas Dorsey Ronnette Rollins In 1931, Theodore Frye and Thomas A. Dorsey, also known as the Father of Gospel Music created the first gospel chorus. ... Black History Month. That same year, he also founded the first publishing house devoted exclusively to selling music by Black gospel composers. Later, in 1940, he married Kathryn Mosely, a union that was blessed with two children. Dorsey opened the first gospel music company, was the first African American elected in the Nashville Songwriters International Hall of Fame and … Thomas A. Dorsey, who was widely known as the father of gospel music, died on Saturday at his home in Chicago. He started working at the age of 11 after dropping out of school to help support his family. His father was a minister; his mother a piano teacher. Copyright © 2021 Interactive One, LLC. He began the Thomas A. Dorsey Gospel Song Music Publishing Company, a publisher of inexpensive gospel blues music. Origin. Contact Us Track My Order Returns Tax Exemption Church Billing From that point on, Dorsey found measurable success as a performer and songwriter, and he began penning songs about God and faith in the early ‘20s. Thomas A. Dorsey (1899-1993) Thomas A. Dorsey, 1945. All Rights Reserved. A high point for Dorsey’s music came when the legendary Red Foley and the Foggy Mountain Boys, stars of the Grand Ole’ Opry, recorded “Peace in the Valley,” which topped The Lucky Strike Hit Parade in 1948. By 1931, Dorsey had formed one of the nation’s first gospel choirs at Chicago’s Pilgrim Baptist Church.  Upon the death of his wife and baby the following year, Dorsey wrote the famous, Precious Lord, Take My Hand.  Soon afterward, he discovered the young singer Mahalia Jackson, and was her accompanist throughout the 1930s and 1940s.  He traveled widely throughout his life, teaching workshops and leading choruses, while composing over 800 gospel pieces.  Reflecting back, Dorsey said, “Gospel is good music sent down from the Lord to save the people…There is no such thing as black music, white music, red or blue music…It’s what everybody needs.”  For his many contributions, Thomas Dorsey has been called the Father of Gospel Music. He penned 3,000 songs, a third of them gospel, including "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" and "Peace in the Valley". African American Music Collection, University of Michigan School of Music, at http://www.umich.edu/~afroammu/standifer/dorsey.html . Gospel music founder Thomas Dorsey once said, “Gospel is good music sent down from the Lord to save the people…There is no such thing as Black music, white music, red or blue music…It’s what everybody needs.” Early in Dorsey's musical career, he was inspired to infuse blues and jazz sounds with traditional hymns. Thomas Dorsey is considered the Father of Black Gospel Music. Dorsey’s father was an itinerant preacher and his mother was the church organist. In many ways, Dorsey's life reflects the proud history of African Americans. Thomas A. Dorsey covered You Can't Get That Stuff No More, Old Ship of Zion, Corrine Corrina, Sittin' on Top of the World and other songs. 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