Thomas Dorsey Influence

Thomas A. Dorsey was a key influencer in the evolution of Gospel music and responsible for introducing the Blues into black church music. Thomas A. Dorsey was originally from Georgia and made his way up to the urban city of Chicago, Illinois along with many other African-Americans from the South during the great migration to the North. Dorsey was originally a Blues musician and composer that traveled as an entertainment pianist. Later in his career life he turned to Gospel music in the church and is known to have composed over 400 Gospel Songs including his most famous song “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”. Though Dorsey was faced initially with lots of opposition for introducing Bmusic into black churches, he strongly pushed for his music to be heard, and for this he is known as the “Father of Gospel Music”. Dorsey’s fathering of Gospel music can be seen in his work ethic to convince ministers at the time to allow blues music to be used along side sacred forms of worship, “He went virtually from church door to church door, gradually convincing ministers that this “devil’s music” suitable for their

It was through Gospel solo recording artists such as Mahalia Jackson, Sallie Martin and Sister Rosetta Tharpe that Gospel music really gained popularity within and outside of the church. Eileen talks about the career of Mahalia Jackson (1912-1972): “Jackson was perhaps responsible more than any single person for bringing Gospel to the attention of the world… She recorded regularly from 1946 on and toured extensively at home and abroad making her first European tour trip in 1952.” Due to the recording and wide spread of the Gospel music among the working class, Gospel music ended up being successful and popular with young people and moved outside the church to be listened