Contralto Dorothy HORTON ~ His Eye Is On The Sparrow (1975)

Dorothy Monson Horton (1926-2008) / His Eye Is On The Sparrow (lyricist Civilla D. Martin & composer Charles H. Gabriel) / Recorded May 18, 1975 during a live performance at D.A.R. Constitution Hall, Washington, DC.

DOROTHY MONSON HORTON, a church soloist whose appearance sparked racial controversy at a Washington, DC church in 1965.

After arriving in the Washington area in 1954, Mrs. Horton was a featured soloist at many large churches, including Asbury United Methodist Church, St. John's Episcopal Church and St. Paul's Episcopal Church, all in the District. She also performed with the Camarata Chorus and the Evelyn White Chorale.

In 1965, Mrs. Horton, who was African American, was engaged as a substitute soloist at the predominantly white Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church in Northwest Washington.

When the church pastor, Edward G. Latch, barred her from singing with the choir, he was denounced by the church's district superintendent. Mrs. Horton refused to sing at the church until Latch apologized.

On November 21, 1965, after the pastor's apology, she appeared at the church and performed a solo in a work by Beethoven.

"Several members of the congregation came down to the choir room afterward to say they were glad she sang," a Washington Post article noted.

Latch, who later became chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives, preached a sermon on sin and forgiveness, saying, "We are all sinners. We have all fallen short of the glory of God."

Mrs. Horton was born in Eola, Louisiana, and grew up in New Orleans and St. Paul, Minnesota. She was a graduate of Macalester College in St. Paul. Since the mid-1960s, she had been a member of Woodside United Methodist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. She was a principal soloist at a 1977 hymn festival at D.A.R. Constitution Hall.

-- from the Washington Post - Thursday, September 25, 2008 / page B07

CONSTITUTION HALL, built in 1929 for the annual conventions of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and made available for the public to rent as an entertainment venue. The D.A.R. became infamous in 1939 for refusing to allow African American contralto Marian Anderson (1897-993) to perform in its hall, prompting US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to resign from the organization. With the aid of President Roosevelt and Mrs. Roosevelt, Anderson performed a critically acclaimed open-air concert on Easter Sunday, 1939 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to a crowd of more than 75,000 people and a radio audience in the millions. After this incident, Anderson performed at Constitution Hall six times, and years later launched her farewell tour from the Constitution Hall stage.

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• Dorothy
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• Sparrow
• Gospel
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• CurzonRoad

[HM0880]

What a sublime, heartfelt rendition of this beautiful hymn! Absolutely amazing. The video accompaniment is lovely-- pure and simple. Thank you for posting. :)

[CurzonRoad]

@HM0880

MOST welcome.... thank YOU!

[TotallyItalian1]

What a pure voice. What an inspirational song. Thanks for posting this CurzonRoad. I would love to hear more songs sung by Ms. Horton. Absolutely beautiful.

Lucia

[CurzonRoad]

Hello Lucia: Thank you, very much! Doug --

[pax41]

What a beautiful rendition of this song! Thanks for sharing this one Doug.

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Bob: Thanks, very much (software worked well on this, too!). Best. Doug --

[EdmundStAustell]

This is very lovely indeed. First-class singing supported by a first-class voice and excellent technique. Yes, I could listen to her sing all day long! Thank you very much!

[meltzerboy]

@CanadaPisces Thanks, CP, for sending this to me. I commented on the video previously but it's always good to hear Dorothy Horton's singing again.

[CanadaPisces]

A lovely old song beautifully sung! Thank you Doug for the posting!

[mayatatyana1]

Doug, this is an incredible voice! Dorothy Horton's rendition touches the heart. Thank you. Maya

[lornabegbie]

How beautiful and uplifting and how wonderfully presented!  Thank you so much.

Lorna

[stuartliff]

Absolutely lovely. A glorious voice used with sensitivity and sincerity. What a loss to the opera and concert stages. I am extremely grateful for having had the chance to hear this fine singer

Vivian

[Maritimer2009]

Thank God for UTube, that we can find these gems of rarest beauty and enjoy them over and over again. From another realm I can feel the beauty in this voice.

[Kievest]

Anyone who isn't moved to their bones by Dorothy Horton's singing and personal story has a heart of stone! The clear, unpretentious sound of her voice is like a cool oasis in the Sahara desert! Her precise diction, delicate but potent phrasing, conviction and elegant, un- emcumbered delivery are subtle but deeply affecting! Douglas, with seeming simplicity, both you and "Dot" have be- stowed a great honor and cherished remembrance upon those of us lucky to receive this video!TY