- Born
- 26 October 1911, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- First work
- 1937: God's Gonna Separate the Wheat from the Tares
- Peak
- 1948 to 1963 (estimated)
- Last work
- 1968: Christmas With Mahalia
- Died
- 27 January 1972, Evergreen Park, United States; aged 60; natural
Mahalia Jackson
Music: singer, United States
Mahalia Jackson was an American gospel singer whose rich contralto and emotional power established her as the pre-eminent voice of sacred music in the twentieth century. Raised in New Orleans, she developed a style steeped in traditional Baptist hymnody and the blues before finding national prominence with her 1948 recording of Move On Up a Little Higher. A devoted civil rights activist, she sang before huge audiences at the 1963 March on Washington and became an international cultural ambassador. She passed away from heart disease near Chicago in January 1972, leaving an indelible imprint on American music.
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Signature works
- Move On Up a Little Higher song1948
- The World's Greatest Gospel Singer album1955
- Bless This House album1956
- Imitation of Life film1959
- Silent Night, Holy Night song1950
- Precious Lord, Take My Hand song1956
Honours
- Grammy Award for Best Gospel or Other Religious Recording, 1961
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 1972
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, 1997