Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Mahalia Jackson

The Lord's Prayer

Mahalia Jackson is the perfect way to start off the New Year. Tell me, who could sing the spirituals like Mama Mahalia? The mere sound of her voice takes you back to that old country church that your grandmother would attend. It's that church that sits far back from the road and there is a long dusty road that leads to it. There were no musicians in the church our grandmothers attended; there was just the humming of voices, the clapping of hands, the tapping of shoes on wooden floor panels, and a tambourine. I thank God for this "Black Pearl" from New Orleans, who sang songs that blessed the young, the old, and the souls of ancestors. Mahalia Jackson represents that old time religion that we need so desperately today. God bless Mahalia Jackson and God bless you in 2008. Peace~

Sources: Biblegateway.com and Wikipedia.org

12 comments:

Geoffrey Philp said...

Happy New Yesr, Stephen and thank you for this.

1Love,
Geoffrey

Stephen A. Bess said...

Happy New Year!! Gotta love Mahalia. Enjoy your day.

1Love

Rent Party said...

A great choice. Happy New Year!

Dance_Soul said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO you, the Mrs. and the Family!!!!

*HUGS* all around!

Writing on Board said...

Happy New!

Rethabile said...

Mahalia... excellent choice to kick off a year. All the best. Lumelisa khaitseli ea ka. Molimo O le hlohonolofatse...

Lyrically speaking said...

Beautiful dedication, love that song and it is great to start the New Year with prayer. Happy New Year Mr. Bless. Hope you and yours have a safe and healthy 2008.

Cergie said...

J'aime les voix, j'aime les instruments à vent comme le tuba que joue mon fils Etienne car lorqu'on les écoute on entend l'âme des interprètes en étant suspendu à leur souffle...

When listening such a beautiful voice, you can feel listening her soul....

Heureuse, très heureuse année 2008 à toi et à tous ceux que tu aimes, cher Stephen

Another Conflict Theorist said...

Peace Brother Stephen,

I wish you and yours a happy, safe and prosperous New Year.

It's funny how things work. I was listening to Shirley Caesar's "Hold My Mule" TODAY (which, I happen to think, is a wonderful, perfectly pulled-off example of the power of music and call and response in the black church) when I realized that I need to re-familiarize myself with the "Old Negro Spirituals." I imagine that Mahalia Jackson would be a good place to begin.

Thanks.

Rent Party said...

Also Sister Rosetta Tharpe!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeaBNAXfHfQ&feature=related

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_Rosetta_Tharpe

M. Akamau said...

She's my mother's favorite. Thanks for resurrecting Mahalia in this post.

Peace,
Michele

changeseeker said...

Beautiful and SO moving! Thanks, Stephen, (somewhat late) for posting this. And may this new year be your best one yet!

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