It goes beyond the series to explore the full diversity of African-American religious expression. For the big band trombonist and bandleader, see, Thomas Dorsey during his "Georgia Tom" blues period, late 1920s, Accounts of how many children the Dorseys had depend on the source. [6] The experience prompted him to copyright his first religious song in 1922, "If I Don't Get There", a composition in the style of Charles Tindley, whom Dorsey idolized. [36] In Living Blues, Jim O'Neal compares Dorsey in gospel to W. C. Handy, who was the first and most influential blues composer, "with the notable difference that Dorsey developed his tradition from within, rather than 'discovering' it from an outsider's vantage point". Thomas A. Dorsey, often called the Father of Gospel Music, migrated from Atlanta to Chicago as a young man, thus exemplifying the experience of many southern blacks of his day. He was part of the Great Migration north. February 25, 2020 Almost 40 years since its cinematic release, a restoration brings this documentary featuring Thomas A. Dorsey and Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith back to life. From God, for God and His People: "Peace in the Valley" Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The companion book of the same title was written by NPR correspondent Juan Williams (with historical notes by University of Indiana professor Quinton Hosford Dixie). Thomas A. Dorsey Biography Born in 1899 in Villa Rica, GA; died of Alzheimer's disease, January 23, 1993, in Chicago, IL; son of a minister and church organist/pianist; married Nettie Harper, 1925 (died, 1931); married Kathryn Mosely, 1941; children: a daughter and a son. Despite featuring musical genres that couldn't be more different from one another, it's interesting how both Say Amen, Somebody and Imagine the Sound (which came out the year before) document the end of the same era in American music. Indeed, in the late 1920s, he would begin work with one of the great gospel soloists of all time, Mahalia Jackson. In a purely musical sense, to Dorsey, the blues was merely a collection of improvisational techniques. "Ministers didn't want them there. The unsteadiness grew worse, leaving him unable to practice, write or perform. Nierenberg centered his film around two pioneering gospel artists, Rev. In Chicago, Thomas Dorsey, a pianist with blues singer Ma Rainey, invents gospel music. Music performed in established black churches in Chicago and throughout the U.S. came from hymnals and was performed as written, usually as a way to showcase the musical abilities of the choirs rather than as a vehicle to deliver a specific spiritual message. The documentary follows their lives from the early days and leads up to a big conference when the two dynamic subjects share an auditorium. [17] Frye and Sallie Martin were two of the first and most effective singers Dorsey took with him to market his work. He gained fame accompanying blues belter Ma Rainey on tour and, billed as "Georgia Tom", joined with guitarist Tampa Red in a successful recording career. In that film, after being helped into a room, he addresses a group of people, moving comfortably in and out of song all the while. He left school early and was soon hanging around theaters and dance halls. No cable. Many churches sought prestige in their musical offerings, which were often ornate and sophisticated liturgical compositions by classical European composers, such as Handel's Messiah (1742) and Mozart's Alleluia (1773). In addition, the blues factor of the gospel blues equation had associations with secular venues and activities often discouraged by the church. Thomas A. Dorsey was one of the gospel pioneers profiled in George Nierenberg's Say Amen, Somebody. Saw the original release. [36] He is buried at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago. Dorsey based the music of his most popular and widely performed gospel song on and old hymn called "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?" (Staig, Laurence, "Obituary: Thomas Dorsey", Dorsey later filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the Illinois Research Clinic in response. He married his sweetheart, Nettie Harper. Instead, George Nierenberg made a beautifully shot and edited film about the legacy and spirit of gospel, complementing the wildly infectious good will and intense devotion of church performances with his thoughtfully paced portrait of the families and communities who sustain this ecstatic genre. The film also explores the role of the Nation of Islam, led by Elijah Muhammad. [42] He insisted that songs be memorized rather than chorus members reading music or lyrics while performing. "From a childhood day I dreamed of being a great singer, and singing over in Europe. Thomas Andrew Dorsey, singer, composer, born Villa Rica Georgia 1 July 1899, died Chicago 23 January 1993. . He studied informally with musicians at the theater and local dance bands, always playing blues. The only thing he cared about was saving souls through his music. During the early 1930s, Thomas Dorsey created gospel music -- the African American religious music which married secular blues to a sacred text. Documentary about the American gospel music scene, focusing on two of the movement's pioneering forces, Thomas A. Dorsey and Willie May Ford Smith. Thereafter, he vowed to concentrate all his efforts in gospel music. For myself. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. See production, box office & company info. ABOUT THE EPISODE, In 1998, 60 people embarked on an Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage. In the film, Mother Smith talks about her husband's resistance to her traveling; Delois Barrett Campbell's husband objects, too. After months of difficult travel and deep soul-searching, the pilgrims reach Africa with a stronger sense of identity and purpose. In 1932 Dorsey was appointed musical director of Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago, a post he held until his retirement in 1983. But the Lord's work would not be easy for him. [33][24], Notably, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" was the favorite song of Martin Luther King Jr., who asked Dorsey to play it for him on the eve of his assassination. Patty Thomas was an American dancer, USO entertainer and actress. But Dorsey's conversion was fleeting; he was soon playing with the Whispering Syncopators, making a salary commensurate with professional theater musicians. The documentary was originally released in 1982, and has been remastered and re-released. Robert F. Darden is an Associate Professor of Journalism, Public Relations . Six years later, he teamed with Mahalia Jackson, and the team ushered in what was known as the Golden Age of Gospel Music. Dorsey himself became known as the father of gospel music. The Thomas A. Dorsey Birthplace and Gospel Heritage Festival, now in its 25th year celebrates the Dorsey legacy with 3 days of music in the city that is credited with being the birth home of Coca Cola and the Father of Gospel Music. Say Amen, Somebody gives an overview of the history of gospel music in the U.S. by following two main figures: Thomas A. Dorsey, considered the "Father of Gospel Music," 83 at the time of filming, recalls how he came to write his most famous song, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" (1932), and the difficulty he faced introducing gospel blues to black India's Economy Moving Into Low Inflation Regime, RBI Paper Says In doing so, he became one of the first musicians to copyright blues music. Martin Luther King Jr.. I miss her everyday. Say Amen, Somebody - Letterboxd He also toured extensively with Mahalia Jackson in the 1940s, who was by this time the preeminent gospel singer in the world. There was a great deal of early resistance to Dorsey's work, partly because it was rooted in the rural southern African-American culture from which the old-line urban churches sought to distance themselves in favor of assimilation. The emotionality of gospel music is always spectacular to witness, and while a large portion of Say Amen, Somebody is devoted to the massive productions of black church music, it goes behind the scenes to illuminate the culture, both good and bad. There, Dorsey remained active until the 1970s, when failing health forced him into semi-retirement. Nierenberg's documentary catches these performers in their homes and at two events: the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses and a tribute to Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith that Nierenberg helped put together. A new 4K restoration of Say Amen, Somebody opens at Film at Lincoln Center on Friday, September 5, featuring an a cappella gospel performance by Songs of Sol. The Duchess of Sussex's father, 78, claimed in the Australian news programme 7News Spotlight that his daughter had not called him in four years.. Dorsey died of Alzheimer's in 1993, listening to music on a Walkman. His reputation led him to become a music arranger for Paramount Records and the Chicago Music Publishing Company. Dorsey found refuge in downtown Atlanta's black community. It may seem out of place for a documentary about gospel music, especially to a more modern audience. Just a genuine soul of a man. The episode follows Thomas Dorsey, also known as the "father of gospel," as he came to Chicago during the great migration and brought the city his gospel blues. Thomas A. Dorsey, Barrett Sisters, Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith, O'Neal Twins, Nierenberg, George T., Zella Jackson Price, Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2023. However, both used their voices in very different ways-one chooses retribution and the other, engagement. Lyrically, according to Boyer, Dorsey was "skilled at writing songs that not only captured the hopes, fears, and aspirations of the poor and disenfranchised African Americans but also spoke to all people". The same thing acts for a gospel song. The reporter found a collector so consumed by the need to. When the pastor at Pilgrim Baptist, Chicago's second largest black church, saw the way it moved the congregation, he hired Dorsey as music director, allowing him to dedicate all his time to gospel music. In terms of the personalities that occupy the film, their presence is remarkable. INR. [1][24][j], Chicago held its first gospel music festival as a tribute to Dorsey in 1985; it has taken place each year since then. Nothing worked. Thomas Dorsey and Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith, 100mins Dorsey described it as serving as a channel through which God spoke. He introduced rituals and standards among gospel choirs that are still in use. In 1931, Dorsey experienced great personal tragedy again: the death in childbirth of both his wife and newborn son devastated him. Thomas Dorsey 1899 - 1993. Please consider upgrading to a Pro accountfor less than a couple bucks a month, youll get cool additional features like all-time and annual stats pages (example), the ability to select (and filter by) your favorite streaming services, and no ads! ", Wade In The Water Ep. Then, he began to think more seriously about his faith. He spent his afternoons and evenings watching vaudeville performances. Newly restored and re-released. He also taught black children at a one-room schoolhouse where his son accompanied him and listened to lessons. Documentaries really don't get much better than this. Thomas A Dorsey was truely one of pop-music cultural best kept secrets. We feel the purity of expression here and see very little of the commercial trappings we see in so much of organized religion. "He is coming in as a collaborator with them, as opposed to this notion or feeling of voyeurism," she says. People are saying amen because it feels good! Thank you for remembering and honoring a great legend Van Matre, Lynn, "Praises To Be For 'Father of Gospel'". In the fall of 1896, the Philadelphia Times published articles about two visits to Dorsey's "humble dwelling" at 206 Dean Street. Director George T. Nierenberg Stars Willie Mae Ford Smith Smith Thomas A. Dorsey Sallie Martin See production, box office & company info Search on Amazon search for Blu-ray and DVD Add to Watchlist The Dorseys sharecropped on a small farm, while the elder Dorsey, a graduate of Atlanta Bible College (now Morehouse College), traveled to nearby churches to preach. At their debut, Frye strutted up and down the aisles and sang back and forth with the chorus, and at one point Dorsey jumped up from the piano stool in excitement and stood as he played. In Chicago,. But it hasn't been seen in theaters in nearly 30 years. Loud Pictures - A Music Movie Project38/65, Even without the explanation of the title from Say Amen, Somebody's Wikipedia page, its meaning is obvious once the film gets rolling. Courtesy Milestone Films 'The Birth of Gospel' Showcases Chicago's Place in Music History He is described as stately and often detached, one writer attesting that from a distance, "Dorsey is not presented as a happy man. Music publisher. They pray for their ancestors and seek to heal the country's wounds of slavery through prayer vigils at historical slave sites. eval(decodeURIComponent('%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%5c%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%4d%69%6b%65%20%57%68%69%74%66%69%65%6c%64%20%26%6c%74%3b%64%75%6c%63%69%6d%65%72%64%75%64%65%40%79%61%68%6f%6f%2e%63%6f%6d%26%67%74%3b%5c%22%3e%4d%69%6b%65%20%57%68%69%74%66%69%65%6c%64%3c%5c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b')). Anthony Heilbut writes that "the few days following his death, 'Precious Lord' seemed the truest song in America, the last poignant cry of nonviolence before a night of storm that shows no sign of ending".