Just a little history... Spirituals came long before Gospel which were what we were singing in fields slaving. They were first messages to each other that "massa" didn't understand. Among these message were: escaping, meeting tonight, freedom soon, get prepared to escape, etc. Listen attentively and you'll hear and understand. As all music do it changed through the years. With the marriage of Spirituals and Jazz you get Gospel; both moving and uplifting music that came from great trials!!
Spirituals was certainly a contributing factor in what came to be known as black gospel, along with the jazz, blues and ragtime. But urban hymn music and the old gospel hymn tunes were another major influence. What the three major pioneers of gospel (Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson & Arizona Dranes) had in common, was their marriage of gospel hymn style with blues. Dorsey himself has cited both hymn writer Charles Tindley and pianist Arizona Dranes as an inspiration for his style.
-IN ABOUT 1954, I WAS VISITING KNOXVILLE, TN.(I WAS 14) NEARBY CLINTON, TN, WAS HAVING RACE RIOTS..NAT. GUARD EVERYWHERE. A BLK GOSPEL DJ, "THE OLD SHIP OF ZION BROACAST,(WKXV) WAS HOSTING A GOSPEL SYMPOSIUM, AND ASKED ME TO SING A SONG I HAD RECORDED, "PEACE IN THE VALLEY". ( I WAS THE ONLY WHT BOY THERE) >>> CONTINUED>>>
>>PART 11>>CONTINUED>> A LITTLE BLK BRO. SAT AT THE PIANO AND PLAYED FOR ME. AFTER I SANG IT, THEY TOLD ME TO SING IT AGAIN..AS I DID, THE CROWD AROSE AND SANG WITH ME! THEY ASKED ME TO LEAD A PRAYER FOR PEACE..I DID..(WITH THE PEOPLE) NEXT DAY, THE RIOTS WE'RE OVER, NAT GUARD WENT HOME!!
OH YES! AS I TURNED TO THINK THE LITTLE MAN AT THE PIANO, THEY INTRODUCE ME TO "DR. THOMAS A DORSEY!" HE SAID: "YOU SUNG YOUR SONG GOOD..SON!" WOW! I ALMOST FELL OUT! WHAT A HUMBLE LITTLE MAN OF GOD! GOD IS GOOD, EVEN TO LITTLE WHITE BOYS..AT AN ALL BLK GOSPEL SINGIN! ..AMEN? BE BLESSED- BUFORDDOWELL@GMAIL.COM (ON FACEBOOK)
This was the first gospel song back in 1929 that Prof. Dorsey wrote! What a shame we have lost our roots, these sungs should still be performed even to day because it our heritage, our art songs if you will. I still have much of Thomas A. Dorsey's printed music including "If you see my Savior" hopefully soon I will be able to form a choir of a few willing souls who has the desire to keep this music alive!
Just a little history... Spirituals came long before Gospel which were what we were singing in fields slaving. They were first messages to each other that "massa" didn't understand. Among these message were: escaping, meeting tonight, freedom soon, get prepared to escape, etc. Listen attentively and you'll hear and understand. As all music do it changed through the years. With the marriage of Spirituals and Jazz you get Gospel; both moving and uplifting music that came from great trials!!
Gary2837 2 months ago
@Gary2837
Spirituals was certainly a contributing factor in what came to be known as black gospel, along with the jazz, blues and ragtime. But urban hymn music and the old gospel hymn tunes were another major influence. What the three major pioneers of gospel (Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson & Arizona Dranes) had in common, was their marriage of gospel hymn style with blues. Dorsey himself has cited both hymn writer Charles Tindley and pianist Arizona Dranes as an inspiration for his style.
theplanetariumscene 3 weeks ago
>>>PART 1>>>
-IN ABOUT 1954, I WAS VISITING KNOXVILLE, TN.(I WAS 14) NEARBY CLINTON, TN, WAS HAVING RACE RIOTS..NAT. GUARD EVERYWHERE. A BLK GOSPEL DJ, "THE OLD SHIP OF ZION BROACAST,(WKXV) WAS HOSTING A GOSPEL SYMPOSIUM, AND ASKED ME TO SING A SONG I HAD RECORDED, "PEACE IN THE VALLEY". ( I WAS THE ONLY WHT BOY THERE) >>> CONTINUED>>>
REVIVALORGANIST88 2 months ago
>>PART 11>>CONTINUED>> A LITTLE BLK BRO. SAT AT THE PIANO AND PLAYED FOR ME. AFTER I SANG IT, THEY TOLD ME TO SING IT AGAIN..AS I DID, THE CROWD AROSE AND SANG WITH ME! THEY ASKED ME TO LEAD A PRAYER FOR PEACE..I DID..(WITH THE PEOPLE) NEXT DAY, THE RIOTS WE'RE OVER, NAT GUARD WENT HOME!!
REVIVALORGANIST88 2 months ago
>>CONTINUED>>>
OH YES! AS I TURNED TO THINK THE LITTLE MAN AT THE PIANO, THEY INTRODUCE ME TO "DR. THOMAS A DORSEY!" HE SAID: "YOU SUNG YOUR SONG GOOD..SON!" WOW! I ALMOST FELL OUT! WHAT A HUMBLE LITTLE MAN OF GOD! GOD IS GOOD, EVEN TO LITTLE WHITE BOYS..AT AN ALL BLK GOSPEL SINGIN! ..AMEN? BE BLESSED- BUFORDDOWELL@GMAIL.COM (ON FACEBOOK)
REVIVALORGANIST88 2 months ago
@REVIVALORGANIST88 Loved your story!
Gary2837 3 weeks ago
Wow...
Heard this on "Say Amen Somebody" with Sallie Martin.
Never thought I'd hear it in full.
Thanks for posting.
;0)
68NYC2 8 months ago
Contemporary blues guitarist Ari Eisenger out of Chicago does a great cover of this.
Kirke182 8 months ago
This was the first gospel song back in 1929 that Prof. Dorsey wrote! What a shame we have lost our roots, these sungs should still be performed even to day because it our heritage, our art songs if you will. I still have much of Thomas A. Dorsey's printed music including "If you see my Savior" hopefully soon I will be able to form a choir of a few willing souls who has the desire to keep this music alive!
Hightea22 1 year ago 4