Mahalia Jackson was a gospel singer. She had become the most influential gospel singer in the world and was known as a singer and civil rights activist.
Mahalia’s childhood days and extended family
Mahalia Jackson is a name that is taken with respect. She was considered the singing Gospel Queen . Born on October 26, 1911 as Mahala Jackson, Mahalia was also a civil rights activist. She was known for her powerful contralto voice. Nicknamed Halie, Mahalia was raised in the Black Pearl section of the Carrollton neighborhood in uptown New Orleans.
| Full Name | Mahalia Jackson |
| Net Worth | $700,000 |
| Date Of Birth | October 26, 1911 |
| Died | January 27, 1972, Evergreen Park, Illinois, United States |
| Place Of Birth | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Profession | Actor, Singer, I Will Move on Up a Little Higher, Trouble of the World, Silent Night |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Sigmond Galloway, Isaac Hockenhull, I Will Move on Up a Little Higher, Trouble of the World, Silent Night |
| Parents | Charity Jackson, John A. Jackson, Sr., I Will Move on Up a Little Higher, Trouble of the World, Silent Night |
| Siblings | Yvonne Jackson, Pearl Jackson, John A. Jackson, Jr., Roosevelt Hunter, Wilmon Jackson, I Will Move on Up a Little Higher, Trouble of the World, Silent Night |
| Nicknames | Mahalia Jackson, Jackson, Mahalia |
| IMDB | http://imdb.com/name/nm0413810 |
| Awards | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Grammy Hall of Fame, Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance, I Will Move on Up a Little Higher, Trouble of the World, Silent Night |
| Movies | Mahalia Jackson: The Power & The Glory, The Best Man, Imitation of Life, St. Louis Blues |
| Star Sign | Scorpio |
13 family members stayed in the 3-bedroom house on Pitt Street. His mother, Charity Clark, worked as a maid and laundress. His father, John, was a stevedore and barber, who later became a Baptist minister.
She had an older brother and 4 paternal stepbrothers. She had bow legs for which, although surgery was recommended, her parents refused her. Her mother died when she was just 4-5 years old. She was then raised by her strict maternal Aunt Duke. She was not sent to school. She loved to sing and sang at the local church.
Mahalia’s musical career
When she was 16 years old, she moved to Chicago, Illinois. She soon joined the local church choir. She traveled with them. She met composer Thomas A. Dorsey, who was the Father of Gospel Music. She gained a lot of knowledge and experience from him and worked with him for almost 14 years. 1931 was the year he recorded his first song that never went public. She signed with Decca Coral Label and recorded a set of records in 1937 that were not so successful.
With the Apollo label, she released in 1947 a record of songs that sold more than 8 million copies. In 1998, this song received the Grammy Hall of Fame award. This song increased its popularity across the US and Europe. She played several shows. Her orchestra grew and she made more recordings, many of which became famous.
She has received critical acclaim and has performed at several renowned salons and events. She was called the Angel of Peace in Paris. His shows used to be sold out. She started her radio series on CBS and also in 1954 signed with Columbia Records. Her albums gained great popularity, although she was criticized for introducing jazz into the Church. She retired in 1971 with her last performance in Germany. She has made some TV appearances.
She opened a beauty salon and a florist and also invested in real estate in Chicago. She also played a vital role in the civil rights movement. Despite all her international fame, she was subjected to racial prejudice in the United States.
her personal life
Mahalia married Isaac Lanes Gray Hockenhull (“Ike”) in 1936. He graduated from Fisk University and the Tuskegee Institute and was 10 years her senior. He used to pressure her to sing secular songs that she refused. In 1941, tired of repeated persuasions and also dissatisfied with his addiction to betting on racehorses, Mahalia divorced him.
She has no children from this relationship. Her second husband was Sigmond Galloway, whom she divorced in 1969. She said:
“I sing God’s music because it makes me feel free. This gives me hope. ”
her death
Mahalia had diabetes mellitus. She died from heart failure and complications from diabetes and this occurred at the Little Company of Mary Hospital, located in Evergreen Park, Illinois.
