Mahalia Jackson MOVIN ON UP, SIGNED, 1st Edition (1966)
; born Mahala Jackson; October 26, 1911 - January 27, 1972)[a] was an American gospel singer, widely considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. With a career spanning 40 years, Jackson was integral to the development and spread of gospel blues in black churches throughout the U. The granddaughter of enslaved people, Jackson was born and raised in poverty in New Orleans. She found a home in her church, leading to a lifelong dedication and singular purpose to deliver God's word through song. She moved to Chicago as an adolescent and joined the Johnson Singers, one of the earliest gospel groups. Jackson was heavily influenced by musician-composer Thomas Dorsey, and by blues singer Bessie Smith, adapting Smith's style to traditional Protestant hymns and contemporary songs. After making an impression in Chicago churches, she was hired to sing at funerals, political rallies, and revivals. For 15 years she functioned as what she termed a "fish and bread singer", working odd jobs between performances to make a living. Jackson's recordings captured the attention of jazz fans in the U. And France, and she became the first gospel recording artist to tour Europe. She regularly appeared on television and radio, and performed for many presidents and heads of state, including singing the national anthem at John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Ball in 1961. Motivated by her experiences living and touring in the South and integrating a Chicago neighborhood, she participated in the civil rights movement, singing for fundraisers and at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. She was a vocal and loyal supporter of Martin Luther King Jr. And a personal friend of his family. Throughout her career Jackson faced intense pressure to record secular music, but turned down high paying opportunities to concentrate on gospel. She was renowned for her powerful contralto voice, range, an enormous stage presence, and her ability to relate to her audiences, conveying and evoking intense emotion during performances.
Passionate and at times frenetic, she wept and demonstrated physical expressions of joy while singing. Her success brought about international interest in gospel music, initiating the "Golden Age of Gospel" making it possible for many soloists and vocal groups to tour and record.
Popular music as a whole felt her influence and she is credited with inspiring rhythm and blues, soul, and rock and roll singing styles. Hardback copy of "Movin' on up" with a paper book cover. Paper book cover is burgundy with red and blue type, reading [The warmly personal story of America's favorite gospel singer/Mahalia Jackson/ with Evan McLeod Wylie/Movin' on up].
Front cover has a depiction of Mahalia Jackson in a white short sleeve shirt, with white beads sewn in flower patterns. Jackson holds her hands clasped in front of her chest, looking up towards her right. The reverse of the paper book cover is white with burgundy type and contains a series of excerpted passages from the autobiography. The text begins thus: MAHALIA JACKSON tells of her life and times...
/"I don't believe in God myself, " a reporter told me, but when you/sing it gives me goose pimples. " "That's not goose pimples, I/told him. That's your soul speaking and you don't even know/ it's there!Mahalia Jackson signed the first page (opposite interior cover) in blue ink, reading [May the Love of God keep/you always in Christ/Mahalia Jackson] in script. Interior pages are white with black type. Please review the photos and ask questions.