Mahalia Jackson (/məˈheɪljə/ mə-HAYL-yə; October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972) was an American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel". Jackson became one of the most influential gospel singers in the world and was heralded internationally as a singer and civil rights activist. She was described by entertainer Harry Belafonte as "the single most powerful black woman in the United States". She recorded about 30 albums (mostly for Columbia Records) during her career, and her 45 rpm records included a dozen "golds"—million-sellers."I sing God's music because it makes me feel free", Jackson once said about her choice of gospel, adding, "It gives me hope. With the blues, when you finish, you still have the blues."
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
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
#
Fact
1
Inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2008.
2
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6840 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
3
Ranked #78 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Rock N Roll
4
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 (under the category Early Influence).
5
She appears on a 32 cent U.S. postage stamp, in the Legends of American Music series, that debuted 7/15/98 in New Orleans, LA.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
P.O.V.
2013
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Independent Lens
2012
TV Series documentary writer - 1 episode
The House I Live In
2012
Documentary performer: "SUMMERTIME"
Dreams of a Life
2011
Documentary performer: "Trouble of the World"
American Experience
2011
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Mississippi Damned
2009
performer: "The Last Mile of the Way"
Precious
2009/II
arranger: "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" / performer: "Just a Closer Walk with Thee"
An American Crime
2007
performer: "Tell the World About This", "Walk in Jerusalem" / writer: "Tell the World About This", "Walk in Jerusalem"
The Pursuit of Happyness
2006
writer: "Lord, Don't Move That Mountain" 1960
Glory Road
2006
performer: "If We Never Needed the Lord Before We Sure Do Need Him Now", "I'm on My Way to Canaan" / writer: "I'm on My Way to Canaan"
Mwah! The Best of the Dinah Shore Show
2003
TV Movie documentary performer: "Down by the Riverside"
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
2002
arranger: "Walk in Jerusalem" / performer: "Walk in Jerusalem"
In the Christmas Spirit
1999
Video documentary performer: "Silent Night"
Life
1999/I
writer: "In the Upper Room" - as M. Jackson
U Turn
1997
performer: "In The Upper Room With Jesus"
Jungle Fever
1991
arranger: "He Calmed the Ocean" / performer: "Bless This House", "The Upper Room", "Let the Church Roll on", "He Calmed the Ocean" / writer: "The Upper Room"
Mississippi Burning
1988
performer: "Take My Hand Precious Lord"
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
1986
performer: "In the Upper Room" / writer: "In the Upper Room"
The Johnny Cash Show
1971
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Sesame Street
1970
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Go, Go, Second Time Virgin
1969
performer: "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child"
The Dean Martin Show
1966
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Danny Kaye Show
1963
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Bell Telephone Hour
1962
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Elmer Gantry
1960
arranger: "I'm On My Way to Canaan Land" - uncredited
The Ed Sullivan Show
1960
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Imitation of Life
1959
performer: "Trouble of the World" - uncredited
St. Louis Blues
1958
performer: "He That Sows In Tears", "Hush the Wind", "Steal Away To Jesus" - uncredited
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
That's Life
1968
TV Series
The Best Man
1964
Mahalia Jackson
Look Up and Live
1964
TV Series
Lamp Unto My Feet
1963
TV Series
Imitation of Life
1959
Choir Soloist
St. Louis Blues
1958
Bessie May
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mahalia
1975
Documentary
Herself - Vocals
Flip
1971
TV Series
Herself
Manitas de Plata, príncipe de Camargue
1971
TV Movie documentary
Herself
The Johnny Cash Show
1971
TV Series
Herself - Singer
The Mike Douglas Show
1961-1970
TV Series
Herself - Gospel Singer
...And Beautiful II
1970
TV Movie
Herself - Singer
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1964-1970
TV Series
Herself / Herself - Guest
The Dick Cavett Show
1970
TV Series
Herself
Sesame Street
1970
TV Series
Herself
The David Frost Show
1969
TV Series
Herself
The Joey Bishop Show
1968-1969
TV Series
Herself
The Merv Griffin Show
1968
TV Series
Herself
The Steve Allen Show
1968
TV Series
Herself
Gala-Abend der Schallplatte
1967
TV Movie
Herself
Girl Talk
1967
TV Series
Herself
The Dean Martin Show
1966
TV Series
Herself
Freedom Spectacular
1964
TV Movie
Herself
The Hollywood Palace
1964
TV Series
Herself - Gospel Singer
The Danny Kaye Show
1963
TV Series
Herself
The Jack Paar Program
1963
TV Series
Herself
The Bell Telephone Hour
1960-1962
TV Series
Herself - Singer
The Red Skelton Hour
1962
TV Series
Herself
Here's Hollywood
1962
TV Series
Herself
The Ed Sullivan Show
1952-1962
TV Series
Singer / Herself / Herself - Gospel Singer
Westinghouse Presents: The Sound of the Sixties
1961
TV Special
Herself
The Mahalia Jackson Show
1961
TV Movie
Herself
What's My Line?
1961
TV Series
Herself - Mystery Guest
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1958-1960
TV Series
Herself
The Garry Moore Show
1958-1959
TV Series
Herself
Jazz on a Summer's Day
1959
Documentary
Herself
The Milton Berle Show
1959
TV Series
Herself
The Bing Crosby Special
1958
TV Special
Herself
Person to Person
1958
TV Series documentary
Herself
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show
1957
TV Series
Herself - Gospel Singer
The Nat King Cole Show
1957
TV Series
Herself - Singer
The DuPont Show of the Month
1957
TV Series
Herself
Look Up and Live
1956
TV Series
Herself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
House of Boys
2009
Herself - Gospel Singer
Can You Hear Me Now: The Evolution of Gospel Music
2008
TV Movie documentary
Herself
P.O.V.
2003
TV Series documentary
Herself
Mwah! The Best of the Dinah Shore Show
2003
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Mahalia Jackson: The Power and the Glory
1997
Herself
Mahalia Jackson Sings the Songs of Christmas
1997
Documentary
4 Little Girls
1997
Documentary
Herself - During March on Washington
American Masters
1988
TV Series documentary
Herself
Black Music in America: From Then Till Now
1971
Documentary short
Herself
The Sixties
2014
TV Mini-Series documentary
Herself - Gospel Singer
The March
2013
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Soul Power!
2013
TV Series documentary
Herself
Gershwin's Summertime: The Song That Conquered the World
2011
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Bert Stern: Original Madman
2011
Documentary
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1988
Star on the Walk of Fame
Walk of Fame
Recording
Awarded on September 1, 1988 at 6840 Hollywood Blvd.