(Poe, Janita, "Thomas A Dorsey, Gospel Pioneer". Known first as Barrelhouse Tommy, he cut his teeth in bars and bordellos before moving on to the vaudeville circuit, where he became Georgia Tom, writing and playing for stars like Ma Rainey and Trixie Smith. If you knew Tom, you had a friend for life. Many hymns are conceived in the throes of tragedy. Dorsey was briefly a student of Morehouse College but after he began working with jazz bands, he moved to Chicago in 1916. Between 1924 and 1928, he served as a backup dancer for Ma Rainey during her touring shows and simultaneously, he acted as a leader for his own music group, Wildcats Jazz Band., Thomas A. Dorsey poses for a portrait circa 1960 in Chicago, Illinois. He was 93 years old. He loved to brag about his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Young Thomas Dorsey describes feeling alienated from school and church during his first years in Atlanta. Dorsey said San Francisco's sanctuary policy already exempts 45 violent or serious felonies -- he wants to add dealing . Dorsey instead asked his singers to rely on feeling.[43]. Every aspect of the song embodies a simple sincerity.. . [2] Called the "Father of Gospel Music" and often credited with creating it, Dorsey more accurately spawned a movement that popularized gospel blues throughout black churches in the United States, which in turn influenced American music and parts of society at large. This is one of the most long-lasting and widely used choruses in Christian worship. The manager of a gospel quartet active in the 1930s stated that songs written by Dorsey and other songwriters copying him spread so far in such a short time that they were called "dorseys". Born on July 1, 1899, Dorsey started his music career at the age of 5 when he began singing in local church choirs. Their mother, Tess Dorsey, would outlive both her sons by several years. Dorsey (1899-1993) was born in Georgia. The adjustment for the entire family was difficult, culminating in Thomas being isolated, held back at school, and eventually dropping out after the fourth grade when he was twelve years old. [38], Gospel historian Horace Boyer writes that gospel music "has no more imposing figure" than Dorsey, and the Cambridge Companion to Blues and Gospel Music states that he "defined" the genre. It would hardly be an exaggeration to say that gospel music would not exist as we know it today were it not for Thomas A. Dorsey. He was a . In doing so, he became one of the first musicians to copyright blues music. "[2], Aside from his prodigious songwriting, Dorsey's influence in the gospel blues movement brought about change both for individuals in the black community and communities as a whole. [3][a], Religion and music were at the center of the Dorseys' lives, and young Thomas was exposed to a variety of musical styles in his early childhood. [47], Encountering a "golden age" between 1940 and 1960, gospel music introduced recordings and radio broadcasts featuring singers who had all been trained by Dorsey or one of his protges. He demanded that members attend practice regularly and that they should live their lives by the same standards promoted in their songs. Fisk University houses his archives as well as those of noted musicians W.C. Use quotes for an exact search. . Partial Date Search. Also preceding Thomas is death are his brothers, James and Robert Dorsey, and one sister Norma Jean Dorsey. Photo courtesy of Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home - Sebring. He was a staple in the West Carrollton community, served as class President for the alumni association and a former member of the Blue Knights Chapter 3. [17] Frye and Sallie Martin were two of the first and most effective singers Dorsey took with him to market his work. While presiding over rehearsals, Dorsey was strict and businesslike. Hundreds of thousands of newly arrived migrants from the South, with an appreciation of blues, began to outnumber an older guard of ministers and parishioners who favored classical European music in services. Upon the death of his wife and baby the following year, Dorsey wrote the famous, Precious Lord, Take My Hand. They had two children, a son named Thomas M. "Mickey" and a daughter, Doris. Like most obituaries, the death notice for Thomas A. Dorsey offered a lot of facts but told little of the life behind them. He also taught black children at a one-room schoolhouse where his son accompanied him and listened to lessons. [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. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. The rent party played a major role in the development of jazz and blues music. Death Year: 1993. Tom was a treat to be around, we always enjoyed our chats and jokes he shared. Third Sunday in Lent, Year A, Learning to Live Inside Out * 1938 Hill & Range Songs, renewed Unichappell Music, Inc. C. Michael Hawn is University Distinguished Professor of Church Music, Perkins School of Theology, SMU. Dorsey, Thomas Andrew (b. We all love you, Tommy! Dorsey retired in December after 26 years at KSCS and 33 in DFW radio. Thomas A Dorsey singing in his living room in Chicago, Illinois, in March 1983. In 1925, he married Nettie Harper, who Rainey hired as a wardrobe mistress despite her inexperience, so she could join Dorsey on tour. We have estimated Thomas A. Dorsey's net worth , money, salary, income, and assets. The cathartic nature of gospel music became integral to the black experience in the Great Migration, when hundreds of thousands of black Southerners moved to Northern cities like Detroit, Washington, D.C., and especially Chicago between 1919 and 1970. All Rights Reserved, Terms of Use Privacy Policy Cookie Policy, YES! Upon the death of his wife and baby the following year, Dorsey wrote the famous, Precious Lord, Take My Hand. Thomas Auguster Dorsey, 58, faces one count each . Induction Year: 1979. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. In the following years, Dorsey picked up an interest in gospel music and eventually stopped making blues. (Harris, p. 24. states three, Marovich, p. 71 states five), Sometimes titled "Standing at the Bedside of a Neighbor". That's a death toll that's higher than the next three causes combined. President Lyndon B. Johnson requested that "Precious Lord" be sung at his funeral. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Demaryius Thomas during the Broncos' Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks. New Jersey, Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1848 . 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. He moved to Chicago and became a proficient composer and arranger of jazz and vaudeville just as blues was becoming popular. Love and prayers for you and your family. "[27] However, once known, Dorsey could offer a "charming smile", according to Heilbut, and his enthusiasm "often lifts his voice to an irrepressible falsetto". by Thomas Andrew DorseyThe United Methodist Hymnal, No. Foley's version has been entered into the National Recording Registry as a culturally significant recording worthy of preservation. I think about all these blue-collar people who had to deal with Jim Crow, meager salaries, and yet the maid who cleaned up somebody else's house all week long, the porter, the chauffeur, the gardener, the cook, were nobody. He loved making you laugh, a jokester at heart and he was the man you could rely on for safety and security. He founded the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses in Chicago in 1933, serving as its president for 40 years. Dozens of his optimistic and sentimental songs became gospel standards, notably Precious Lord, Take My Hand (1932). Love you! Aside from the lyrics, he saw no real distinction between blues and church music, and viewed songs as a supplement to spoken word preaching. Death . Database Death Records. Birth Name: Thomas Andrew Dorsey. [en] Vital records: Thomas A Dorsey at +Archives . Death Records are kept by Vital Records Offices or Tarrant County Clerk's Offices, which may be run by the state or at . African American Music Collection, University of Michigan School of Music, at http://www.umich.edu/~afroammu/standifer/dorsey.html . In the 1920s he toured with Ma Rainey and his own bands, often featuring the slide guitarist Tampa Red. We will remember him forever. Staff is centered in Nashville, Tennessee, but we also have staff at locations across the United States. He then taught himself how to play barrelhouse piano and was often called "Barrelhouse Tommy," as he started working in dance halls, private parties, and gin palaces. He penned 3,000 songs, a third of them gospel, including "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" and "Peace in the Valley". Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. And he would sit at the piano and play something and say, 'That's good stuff! Dorsey put together the "Wild Cats Jazz Band" to play for Ma Rainey in 1925. Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday in A.R. Selected discography. Michael Landon. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Charles D. and Norma Jean Moe (Ferguson) Dorsey. Last Known Residence . Both brothers received their first musical . While working in a local circus at The 81 theater in Atlanta, Dorsey became influenced by the famous musicians who played there most especially the pianists. "As a boy he started playing in bordellos, playing piano, blues . Second Sunday in Lent, Year A - Lectionary Planning Notes, Learning to Live Inside Out Following his death, thousands of Chicago natives gathered at the Pilgrim Baptist Church where they exalted the late legend with his songs during his funeral service. Thomas Andrew Dorsey was born in Villa Rica, Georgia, on 1 July 1899. He moved to Chicago in 1915 and studied at the Chicago College of Composition and Arranging and began playing in nightclubs under a variety of names as a young man, including, "Georgia Tom," "Texas Tommy" and "Barrelhouse Tom." Dorseys influence was enormous. Michael W. Harris, The Rise of Gospel Blues (New York: Oxford University Press, 1992); James Standifer, Interview with Thomas Dorsey, 1980. Selected writings. The Dorsey family relocated from rural Villa Rica, GA to Atlanta in 1908. Thomas Andrew Dorsey, (born July 1, 1899, Villa Rica, Ga., U.S.died Jan. 23, 1993, Chicago, Ill.), American songwriter, singer, and pianist whose many up-tempo blues arrangements of gospel music hymns earned him the title of Father of Gospel Music.. Meyer Lansky. Dorsey doubtless would have continued in this vein had he not fallen ill and, after the death of a neighbor, been moved to write his first religious song, If You See My Savior, Tell Him That You Saw Me. It was hardly an immediate success; it was three years before he sold even a single copy of the song, during which time he kept up his career in the blues. At the beginning of worship services, Dorsey instructed choruses to march from the rear of the sanctuary to the choir-loft in a specific way, singing all the while. (Staig, Laurence, "Obituary: Thomas Dorsey", Dorsey later filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the Illinois Research Clinic in response. View staff by program area to ask for additional assistance. On January 23, 1993, Dorsey passed away at the age of 93 in the master bedroom of his $130,000 Chicago home. He also toured extensively with Mahalia Jackson in the 1940s, who was by this time the preeminent gospel singer in the world. Known as the "Father of Gospel Music," the Georgia native was born on July 1 st, 1899.. Thomas Andrew Dorsey was born in the town of Villa Rica to a minister father and piano teacher mother, who taught him the instrument. In 2019, Tom retired happily to Sebring, Florida. [5], Dorsey seemed ambivalent about writing church music until 1921 when he was inspired by W. M. Nix's rendition of "I Do, Don't You? He was born in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Charles D. and Norma Jean "Moe" (Ferguson) Dorsey. 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. during pregnancy. His reputation led him to become a music arranger for Paramount Records and the Chicago Music Publishing Company. His father was a Baptist preacher, and his mother a piano teacher. Thomas A. Dorsey wrote Peace in the Valley, Precious Lord, Take My Hand and I'm Going to Live the Life I . : "The Secularization of Black Gospel Music" by Heilbut, Anthony in, This page was last edited on 19 June 2022, at 06:09. [52] Four years later, Aretha Franklin sang it at Jackson's funeral. For persons dying between 1940-1997, you can order a copy of the death certificate via Ancestry.com for a fee. The family has requested in Toms name for donations to be sent to the Blue Knights of Ohio III. While often living hand-to-mouth, the Dorseys were able to own an organ, which was rare for black families, and Dorsey's mother played during his father's church services. Ravenna OH car crash death of Thomas Dorsey - Obituary. [8], Dorsey worked with Rainey and her band for two years, wherein he composed and arranged her music in the blues style he was accustomed to, as well as vaudeville and jazz to please audiences' tastes. "Precious Lord" was written in Chicago in 1932 following the death of Thomas Dorsey's wife Nettie and infant son during childbirth. He died on May 16, 2000 at 84 years of age. In 1983, he was featured in the documentary Say Amen, Somebody and was honored at the 1992 Grammy Awards show with a Trustees Award. In 1933, Dorsey directed a 600-person chorus at the second meeting of the NCGCC, now boasting 3,500 members in 24 states. The 1981 meeting featured in the film was the last convention he was able to attend. [15] In between recording sessions with Tampa Red, and inspired by the compliments he received, he formed a choir at Ebenezer Baptist Church at the request of the pastor, Reverend James Smith, who had an affinity for Negro spirituals and indigenous singing styles. Dorsey, after all, knew the devils music intimately. May 16, 2000 . They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. Furthermore, when Thomas' father traveled to preach at other churches, Thomas and his mother attended a church that practiced shape note singing; their harmonizing in particular making a deep impression on him. Dorsey also recorded under the names George Ramsey, Memphis Jim, Memphis Mose, Railroad Bill, Smokehouse Charley, Texas Tommy, and others. Ill be back to Lakeland in January if you want to get together and chat! 102. by George Nelson Allen (1852). He was a truly decent, honest, and honorable man and it was a privilege to know him. His wife, Nettie, was Rainey's wardrobe mistress. Blue Knights of Ohio III, PO BOX 13738, Dayton OH 45413. (Harris, pp. However, we continue to have leadership offices, meeting rooms, and The Upper Room Chapel at 1908 Grand Avenue, in Nashville. His theme song was "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You".His technical skill on the trombone gave him renown among other musicians. [33][50][51], Despite racial segregation in churches and the music industry, Dorsey's music had widespread crossover appeal. [57], List of people considered a founder in a Humanities field, This article is about the pianist, and composer of jazz, blues, and gospel. [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 Dorsey, a popular Chicago blues pianist turned gospel songwriter, sent Sallie Martin, called the "Queen of Gospel," on solo tours around the country. Neither did his music appeal only to the black community. THOMAS passed away of cause of death on month day 2015, at age 61 at death place, Oregon. Thomas Andrew Dorsey (July 1, 1899 - January 23, 1993) was known as "the father of black gospel music" and was at one time so closely associated with the field that songs written in the new style were sometimes known as "dorseys." [2] Earlier in his life he was a leading blues pianist known as Georgia Tom. At eight he started writing his own music, and by 13, was playing piano in Atlanta, accompanying some of the famous jazz artists of the day. In 1923, he became the pianist and leader of the Wild Cats Jazz Band accompanying Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, a charismatic and bawdy blues shouter who sang about lost love and hard times. American Gospel musician Thomas A Dorsey singing in his living room in Chicago, Illinois in March 1983. Touring with singer Sallie Martin, Dorsey brought new hope to millions of black churchgoers, packing churches and filling collection baskets even during the darkest days of the Depression. Thomas Dorsey is considered one of the pioneers of gospel music and is greatly remembered for his numerous contributions to the industry. His death was attributed to his mother's smoking. The database also contains older death records for some parishes, such as deaths that occurred in Jefferson parish before 1911, and deaths that occurred in Orleans parish as early as 1804. ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM . As formulated by Dorsey, gospel music combines Christian praise with the . Please confirm that you want to receive email from us. I am so sorry to hear of Tom's passing. was one of the United States' most prominent gospel singers. 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. His father, Thomas Madison, served as a Baptist minister while his mom, Etta Plant worked as a church organist. 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). 11:03 PM on Mar 8, 2015 CDT. Death . Hampton, Hampton City County, Virginia 23669 . On November 26, 1956, Tommy Dorsey died at age 51 in his Greenwich, Connecticut home. But it became the hit of the Jubilee Session of the National A.M.E. Baptist Convention in 1930, and, from then on, Dorsey devoted himself to religious music. Van Matre, Lynn, "Praises To Be For 'Father of Gospel'". [4], Directionless, Dorsey began attending shows at the nearby 81 Theater, that featured blues musicians and live vaudeville acts. Working and recording as the Hokum Boys, Tampa Red and Georgia Tom churned out a steady stream of risque blues, finally hitting the big time in 1928 with a million-selling recording of a Dorsey tune, Its Tight Like That., Although its suggestive lyrics seem quite mild by modern standards, Tight Like That was a scandal in its time and was blamed by no less than W.C. "When she started singing, the gold in her teeth would sparkle," Rainey's longtime musical director Thomas A. Dorsey wrote in his unpublished memoirs. Black musicians during the pre-Civil Rights era often formed their own publishing companies in order to make their music available. His father, Thomas Madison, served . Between 1932 and 1944, he held "Evenings with Dorsey" on this circuit, teaching novices the best ways to deliver his songs. Martin Luther King Jr. Another composition, "Peace in the Valley", was a hit . By marrying the spiritual uplift of church-schooled lyrics to the physical energy of blues-fired music, Dorsey was able to reach his audience in ways that even the greatest preachers couldnt. Death . He was his sons' first teacher. Leak Funeral Home, 7838 S . . and died after 2 days. As Dorsey related in The Rise of Gospel Blues: "My inner-being was thrilled. [20] He also mentored many young musicians, including training a teenage Mahalia Jackson when she first arrived in Chicago, although he said she did not entirely accept his instruction: "She said I was trying to make a stereotyped singer out of her. "J. W." First & Middle Name (s) Last Name. No matter what your reason for searching through Maryland death records, you're going to find . Norton, Kay, "'Yes, [Gospel] Is Real': Half a Century with Chicago's Martin and Morris Company". Death Year: 1972; Death date: January 27 . . https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Andrew-Dorsey, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame - Biography of Thomas A. Dorsey, Songwriters Hall of Fame - Biography of Thomas A. Dorsey, Thomas A. Dorsey - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). '"[27], When he gave interviews later in his life, he never condemned blues music or his experiences in that period. Thomas Andrew Dorsey, (born July 1, 1899, Villa Rica, Ga., U.S.died Jan. 23, 1993, Chicago, Ill.), American songwriter, singer, and pianist whose many up-tempo blues arrangements of gospel music hymns earned him the title of "Father of Gospel Music." Dorsey was the son of a revivalist preacher. Thomas Andrew Dorsey (July 1, 1899 - January 23, 1993) was an American musician, composer, and Christian evangelist influential in the development of early blues and 20th-century gospel music. THOMAS DORSEY, the favourite gospel singer of the late Martin Luther King, was one of the . Updated: October 7, 2011 . 424) by George Allen (1812-1877), paired with the text "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone." They had to sit in the back of the bus, they were denied their rights, but when they walked into their church on Sunday morning and put on a robe and went down that aisle and stood on that choir stand, the maid became a coloratura, and when she stood before her church of five hundred to a thousand, two thousand people, she knew she was somebody. Thomas A. Dorsey Net Worth. He experienced a spiritual re-invigoration of sorts in 1928. . This is easily searchable online and will lead you to death records that date further back than modern times. Omissions? Nonetheless, the young Dorsey made his living playing blues piano. [24] He found resistance among ministers, musicians, and parishioners alike. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Since its debut it has been translated into 50 languages. There the family struggled economically. Dorsey found appeal in the freedom and potential that came with improvising within established hymns, allowing singers and musicians to infuse more emotion particularly joy and elation into their performances to move congregations. He started serving as the Choral Director of the Pilgrim Baptist Church, where he created the United States first gospel choir. We laughed all the way, and joined forces for several years in efforts to promote events for our mutual Alma Mater, West Carrollton. 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. He was also very handy and if you didnt know how to fix it, he would teach you. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. My sincere condolences to the family. His uncle was also a musician, a traveling guitarist concentrating on country blues while it was in its infancy. (DG) - Hagerstown Police are investigating a deadly stabbing that began as a fight between a father and son. Thomas Dorsey was born July 1, 1899, just outside Atlanta. .." By the time we reach the third stanza, the terrain has changed from a stormy sea (stanza one), a long road (stanza two), to a river of hope (stanza three). AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Take care, Place of Birth: Villa Rica, Georgia. His best-known composition, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord", was performed by Mahalia Jackson and was a favorite of the Rev. Birthplace: Shenandoah, PA Location of death: Greenwich, CT Cause of death: Accident - Choking Remains. Most of his musical training was in the church, but he also studied and played jazz and blues. [3], The Dorseys moved to Atlanta to find better opportunities when Thomas was eight years old. Thomas Andrew Dorsey, singer, composer, born Villa Rica Georgia 1 July 1899, died Chicago 23 January 1993. Louisiana Death Records. Popular bandleader. Upon singing, "at the river I stand," the singer reaches at last the final destination, the symbolic Jordan River. The night Rainey opened at Chicago's largest black theater Dorsey is remembered as "the most exciting moment in my life". It was sung at the rally in Memphis the night before the civil-rights leader's assassination. Peggie Wiechman. Dorsey was the son of a revivalist preacher. Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year A, Home . He was born a salesman. He will be missed by all and remembered for his jokes, stories and infectious laugh and smile. But they just didnt understand.. Of his 1,000 musical works, at least 200 were gospel songs. In so many words, it's about rising above poverty while still living humble deserting the ways of the world while retaining its best tunes. I know that words are just not enough. Tom served as a police officer in Madison Township, worked SRO for City of Dayton public schools, was a car salesman for several years when he transitioned into a career with Goodyear Tire & Rubber. Mount Prospect Baptist Church, where his father preached and Dorsey learned music at his mother's organ, was declared a historic site by the city, and a historical marker was placed at the location where his family's house once stood. Thomas A. Dorsey also appears in this Compilation Tracks of Disc 1 8.Blue Moon 12.Crying In The Chapel 24.If We Never Meet Again Tracks of Disc 2 8.O Sole Mio 9.Just Because 12.Merry Christmas Baby 14.Milky White Way 17.Blues Stay Away From Me 18.My Happiness 19.Mystery Train Tracks of Disc 3 2.Silver Bells 3.Take My Hand Precious Lord 8 . 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In the master bedroom of his wife and baby the following year, Dorsey wrote the famous, Lord! Have leadership offices, meeting rooms, and one sister Norma Jean Moe ( Ferguson ).. Demanded that members attend practice regularly and that they should live their lives by the same standards in... Aretha Franklin sang it at Jackson 's funeral before the civil-rights leader 's assassination first teacher for searching Maryland. `` Wild Cats jazz Band '' to play for Ma Rainey and his mother & # x27 s... Visitation will be missed by all and remembered for his jokes, stories and infectious laugh and smile our! Ravenna OH car crash death of Thomas Dorsey describes feeling alienated from school and church during his years! Houses his archives as well as those of noted musicians W.C. Use quotes for an search! Every aspect of the most exciting moment in My life '' the church but. 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