| Code | DS/UK/3219 |
| Name | Jackson; Mahalia (26 October 1911-27 January 1972); American gospel singer and civil rights activist |
| Variations of Name | Halie Jackson |
| Dates | 26 October 1911-27 January 1972 |
| Gender | Female |
| Place of Birth/Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States (born) |
| Relationships | Daughter of Charity Clark (maid and a laundress) and John A Jackson Sr (dockworker, later Baptist minister)
Wife of Isaac Lanes Grey Hockenhull |
| Biography | Mahalia Jackson was an American gospel singer. Possessing a contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel". She 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 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." |