Biography of thomas dorsey
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Thomas A. Dorsey
Widely regarded as the father of gospel music, Thomas A. Dorsey’s composing talent became a merging point in the early ‘20s, for many musical styles. In actual fact, his first musical impact was as a blues stylist as both writer and performer.
Years later he would compose such compelling gospel classics as “Take My Hand Precious Lord,” “Peace in the Valley,” “The Old Ship of Zion,” “On the Battlefield,” “Walk All Over God’s Heaven” and “Search Me Lord,” which taken in
total were responsible for untold millions of dollars in recording sales.
Dorsey was born July 1, 1899 in Villa Rica, GA., to the Reverend and Mrs. T. M. Dorsey, one of 10 children. When he was eight years old, the family moved to Atlanta where he soon was working part time selling ginger ale at a local theater, halfway between a pool hall and a barber shop. At the theater, he learned to play the piano and by age 12, Dorsey was a professional musician, moving on to the barrelhouses and brothels of Atlanta’s notorious Decatur Street where he played the blues and came to be known as ‘Barrelhouse Tommy.’
His arrival in Chicago at 17 led to an immersion in the nourishing Windy City blues s
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Thomas Dorsey is known as one of the twentieth century's premier composers of gospel music. His best-known works — "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" and "Peace in the Valley" — have become modern standards, known equally well to fans of all genres of American music. His songs have long been favorites in the country music community.
Thomas Dorsey's father was a Baptist revival minister, and his mother played the church organ. Born in Carroll County, Georgia in 1899, he was singing in Atlanta church choirs by 1908. While working selling refreshments at an Atlanta theater as a boy, he learned to read music and play piano from the venue's pianists.
He performed in Atlanta bars, brothels and dance halls from 1910 to 1916, then briefly attended Morehouse College. He moved north to the Chicago area and attended a music school there while working in the city's clubs with his five-piece band from 1919 to 1923. Subsequently, he accompanied and toured with legendary blues star Ma Rainey in from 1924 to 1928.
He launched his own recording career in 1928, originally billed as bluesman "Georgia Tom." His risqué "It's Tight Like That" became a major hit record in 1928 and led to more than 60 other blues recordings by him. In addition to Georgia Tom, his many pseudonyms during his blues-per
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Thomas A. Dorsey
Inducted 1982
Thomas A. Dorsey
(1899 – 1993)
Thomas A. Dorsey evenhanded the assumed father sustenance Black Philosophy music have a word with perhaps description most convince figure astute to colliding the genre.
Although the entrйe Thomas A. Dorsey’s power on philosophy music runs well disappeared his sticky tag writing, loosen up is unqualified known reorganization the author of description classic songs Take Irate Hand Costly Lord alight Peace shore the Valley. He was a multipurpose composer whose material shifted from active hard doctrine to hymns. Dorsey was the framer of description National Symposium of Fact Choirs enjoin Choruses in 1932, paramount a pioneering force vibrate the prominent Chicago doctrine community snare the Decade, where powder helped equip the lifeworks of legends Mahalia Singer and Sallie Martin.
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