Mahalia Jackson

319,739 plays (62,164 listeners)
In your library (0 plays)

35 shouts

Add to my Library Share

Mahalia Jackson ( October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972 ) was an American gospel singer, widely regarded as the best in the history of the genre. She grew up in the “Black Pearl” section of the Carrollton neighborhood of uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, and began singing in a Baptist church. In 1927 she moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she sang with The Johnson Brothers, one of the earliest professional gospel groups.

The Johnson Brothers broke up in the mid-1930s, and Jackson began her solo career, recording for Decca in 1937. The result, “God’s Gonna Separate the Wheat from the Tares”, was only a moderate success, but Jackson became a popular concert draw. She experienced a recording hiatus until 1946 when she signed with Apollo Records, releasing several singles that are now highly regarded, though sales were sluggish at the time. “Move on up a Little Higher” (1948) became a huge success, however, and stores could not stock enough of it to meet demand. Jackson rocketed to fame in the U.S. and soon after in Europe. “I Can Put My Trust in Jesus” won a prize from the French Academy, and “Silent Night” was one of the best-selling singles in the history of Norway. She began a radio series on CBS and signed to Columbia Records in 1954. With her mainstream success came an inevitable backlash from gospel purists who felt she had watered down her sound for popular accessibility.

Tagged as:

gospel, female vocalists, soul, jazz, jazz vocal
See more…

Similar Artists

Top Albums

The Essential Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $16.99
- 7digital $16.99
- iTunes $16.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $15.93
- eBay Search
Gospels, Spirituals & Hymns
Mahalia Jackson
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes $16.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $17.31
- eBay Search
16 Most Requested Songs
Mahalia Jackson
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.99
- 7digital $9.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $5.28
- eBay Search
Greatest Hits
Mahalia Jackson
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search

Top Tracks

1	Silent Night, Holy Night	280
2	Silent Night	110
3	Go Tell It On The Mountain full track	64
4	Hark! The Herald Angels Sing	59
5	Amazing Grace full track	55
6	O Little Town Of Bethlehem	49
7	What Child Is This	39
7	His Eye Is On The Sparrow full track	39
9	Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho full track	37
10	Didn't It Rain full track	33
11	In The Upper Room full track	29
12	Silent Night (46Bliss Remix)	28
13	Sweet Little Jesus Boy full track	26
14	Down By The Riverside full track	24
15	Silent Night Holy Night full track	22

Shoutbox

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).

Hayzi22 wrote:
Sunday afternoon

Mahalia Jackson is my favorite.

View Profile | Leave Hayzi22 a shout
SGwinn wrote:
12 days ago

I'm inviting Mahalia fans to come and join my group for Mahalia Jackson fans http://www.last.fm/group/Mahalia+Jackson+Fans . I only have 5 members. I know there are more Mahalia fans than that on last.fm.

View Profile | Leave SGwinn a shout
emapia wrote:
20 days ago

what a lovely voice .

View Profile | Leave emapia a shout
Applecrumble wrote:
October 2009

I agree with that HampusForever....lets just listen to some music

View Profile | Leave Applecrumble a shout
mainmainww wrote:
October 2009

miss.Jackson ,your music help bring me closer to jesus.

View Profile | Leave mainmainww a shout
jarlero wrote:
September 2009

She left me breathless...

View Profile | Leave jarlero a shout
Hajee1 wrote:
September 2009

I love Jesus Christ......Who is also God......Who created Mahalia Jackson......Amen!

View Profile | Leave Hajee1 a shout
gospelnl wrote:
July 2009

My parents would let me stay up late if Mahalia was on television in the Netherlands. They only did it for Mahalia, Mohamed Ali and Eurovision :-P

View Profile | Leave gospelnl a shout
soulxlutherking wrote:
June 2009

I' am Atea,but I love to gospel...=)

View Profile | Leave soulxlutherking a shout
tekkie69 wrote:
June 2009

What a powerhouse, thank u M. J.

View Profile | Leave tekkie69 a shout
Sr_RoX wrote:
June 2009

I love Jesus ... s2

View Profile | Leave Sr_RoX a shout
HampusForever wrote:
June 2009

Eh, I love the feeling of the music but seeing the comments here, "I love god!" makes me want to gouge my eyes out.

View Profile | Leave HampusForever a shout
MireQ wrote:
May 2009

Hallelujah! I love God! And I love the voice given to Mrs. Jackson!

View Profile | Leave MireQ a shout
LoverofGospel wrote:
May 2009

Just did a research paper on her for my African American History class......I see why she was called the "The Queen of Gospel" beautiful voice.....

View Profile | Leave LoverofGospel a shout
Silverfox616 wrote:
April 2009

Loved her voice, grew up singing her songs that would give me such joy.

View Profile | Leave Silverfox616 a shout
staytooned wrote:
March 2009

The ground of sound, she defined the true meaning of God, goddess, and diamonds. Her voice is undeniable.

View Profile | Leave staytooned a shout
loveonesweetone wrote:
March 2009

My Grandmother love this woman!

View Profile | Leave loveonesweetone a shout
imprecisely wrote:
October 2008

the woman was a force of nature. a voice like that can't be duplicated anytime soon.

View Profile | Leave imprecisely a shout
SGwinn wrote:
September 2008

I just started a group for Mahalia Jackson fans. Come and join.

View Profile | Leave SGwinn a shout
maulofsound wrote:
August 2008

i dunno about "i believe", but you can certainly download her albums.

View Profile | Leave maulofsound a shout