Mahalia Jackson

With a powerful and commanding voice, Mahalia Jackson was one of the greatest Gospel Singers of the world. Mahalia’s first exposure in singing came during her childhood, when she sang at the famous Mount Moriah Baptist Church. This was the stepping stone for her and she gradually became the most renowned and respected gospel singer in the U.S. One of her major hits in her early career was the “Move on up a Little Higher”, which made her an internationally acclaimed artist. Renowned artists such as Duke Ellington as well as Thomas A. Dorsey performed with her during a march in Washington in the year 1963, which was done at the request of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mahalia was also called the “The Queen of Gospel" as she had a very powerful voice to go with her enormous talent. Well known throughout the world as a very active civil rights activist, Mahalia became one of the most respected, famous and influential gospel singers in the world. She also received lots of accolades and titles one of which being describe her as the most powerful woman of the black race in the entire United States by the famous entertainer Harry Belafonte.