Loved it. SAY AMEN, SOMEBODY is without question one of the greatest documentaries that you're going to see when it comes to gospel music. 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')). (Harris, pp. Both were born enslaved; both used the Gospel to shape their identities. Cecil Williams and Thomas A. Dorsey, born a generation apart, both seeking to bring the reality of the streets into the church. 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.. The only thing he cared about was saving souls through his music. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. Give me a song, I stick to the note and play it like it is, you won't pay much attention to it. With his brother Jimmy, Dorsey helped define American popular music from the 1920s through the mid 1950s. This is priceless DVD that will touch your heart no matter what. Was so happy to see it available on DVD at a price I could afford. 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 Sources. The first was Thomas A. Dorsey, known as the father of gospel music. Throughout his early years he felt torn between the sacred and the secular. documentary "Say Amen, Somebody" (1982), where he is shown singing, remembering the past . People are responding to these singers because it feels good! She says another thing that sets the film apart is its focus on female performers; Nierenberg says the women faced opposition from both the Church and their families, "They were bucking the system when it came to performing their music in churches," he says. Atlanta ' s " Barrel House Tom ". For women, that included not wearing make-up. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of serviceapply. He was part of the Great Migration north. In 1983 he was featured in the documentary "Say Amen, Somebody." He died of Alzheimer's disease in 1993 after spending the last year of his life in a coma. [39] Anthony Heilbut further explains that "the gospel of [Charles] Tindley and Dorsey talks directly to the poor. Between 1932 and 1944, he held "Evenings with Dorsey" on this circuit, teaching novices the best ways to deliver his songs. 102. did they follow in his foot steps? 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. Spirit of the Church: A Celebration of Black Gospel Music, Volume 1, Summer of Soul (Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (Feature), The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song, American Masters: How It Feels To Be Free, Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. And that's how he came to capture his subjects accurately, says Dr. Rhea Combs. At the time, Nierenberg was looking for a follow-up to his award-winning 1979 tap dance documentary, No Maps on My Taps, when he had dinner with musician Ry Cooder. Thomas A. Dorsey continue to be a giant in gospel music, and after his death his music is still alive and well. January 17, 2000 Sung at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it is the most-recorded gospel song ever. He wrote over 400 compositions, but it is for Take My Hand, Precious Lord that he is best known. In his grief, he turned to the piano for comfort. To learn more about Thomas Dorsey, watch the 1982 musical documentary Say Amen, Somebody, currently available on YouTube and DVD, check out his collection of papers archived at Fisk University, read 1994's The Rise of Gospel Blues: The Music of Thomas Andrew Dorsey in the Urban Church by Michael W. Harris, which you can borrow from the . The Thomas A. Dorsey Birthplace and Gospel Heritage Festival, established in 1994, remains active. ", Combs is curator of photography and film at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, which helped fund the restoration of Say Amen, Somebody. Dorsey, who was born in Villa Rica, Georgia, was the music director at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago from 1932 until the late 1970s. It just makes you feel like you want to you hear me say I want to fly away somewhere? Lornell, Kip, "Dorsey, Thomas (18991993) Blues and Gospel Musician and Composer". [39][40] Folklorist Alan Lomax claims that Dorsey "literally invented gospel". 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. McLin remembered that her uncle was "soft-spoken, not loud at all, and very well dressed he always had a shirt and a tie and a suit, and he was always elegant, very mannerly, very nice. [17] Frye and Sallie Martin were two of the first and most effective singers Dorsey took with him to market his work. These folks added boogey woogey to the hymns and were heretics. Rainey interacted with her audiences, who were often so enthralled they stood up and shouted back at her while she sang. Thomas A. Dorsey was one of the gospel pioneers profiled in George Nierenberg's Say Amen, Somebody. Eventually Dorsey's desire to become a professional musician motivated him to move to Philadelphia, in 1916, but his plans soon changed and he settled in Chicago, then abuzz with both migrant workers and migrant musicians. "Dedication: Thomas Dorsey Dedication Day". These churches discouraged expressive congregational participation and attempted to incorporate white church traditions in both service and music. [55][56], As of 2020, the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses has 50 chapters around the world. He became enthralled with them, and set out to learn as much about music (primarily the blues) as he could. Deemed the " father of gospel music, " Thomas Dorsey emerged, during the early 1930s, as the creator of an African American religious music style known as the gospel blues an idiom . He returned to blues, recording "It's Tight Like That" with guitarist Hudson "Tampa Red" Whittaker despite his misgivings over the suggestive lyrics. He said that he suffered a debilitating stroke last year and expressed disappointment that she did not reach out. When Muhammad's son, Warith Deen, assumes leadership after his father's death, he transforms the organization to follow the practice of orthodox Islam (Louis X. Farrakhan resurrected the ideology of the old Nation of Islam in 1978). (For more of Thomas A. Dorsey's work, see also "Precious Lord: New Recordings of the Great Gospel Songs of Thomas A. Dorsey," added to the National Registry in 2002.) He died in 1993. There, Dorsey remained active until the 1970s, when failing health forced him into semi-retirement. One of the best documentaries going I reckon. 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. Before long he was back to writing and performing secular blues, and in 1928, "It's Tight Like That" became a hit, selling seven million copies. The Dorsey family relocated from rural Villa Rica, GA to Atlanta in 1908. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. It tells the stories of Sojourner Truth and Denmark Vesey. After the death of a close friend, Dorsey was inspired to write his first religious song with a blues influence, "If You See My Savior, Tell Him That You Saw Me".[10][c]. ), McLin became a composer, singer, and voice coach for, Numerous sources state Dorsey coined the term "gospel" to refer to sacred music, but W. M. Nix, the singer who inspired Dorsey at the 1921 National Baptist Convention, compiled a songbook titled, NCGCC annual meetings were also attended by members of the, Dorsey later stated that all the praise he received for this song never eclipsed his grief, saying, "None of it's ever been soothing to me, from that day to this day." "I just tried to make my little talk to the Lord but it was wasted, I think," Dorsey tells the audience. Apparently, this is a common phrase for a preacher to employ when looking to foster agreement. [49] In Dorsey's wake, R&B artists Dinah Washington, who was a member of the Sallie Martin Singers, Sam Cooke, originally in the gospel band the Soul Stirrers, Ray Charles, Little Richard, James Brown, and the Coasters recorded both R&B and gospel songs, moving effortlessly between the two, as Dorsey did, and bringing elements of gospel to mainstream audiences. The film also explores the role of the Nation of Islam, led by Elijah Muhammad. It explores Islam and Yoruba. 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). They had two children, a son named Thomas M. "Mickey" and a daughter, Doris. He is often quoted saying that he had "been kicked out of the best churches in the country". Status is huge in this world. SERIES CREDITS, "There is a River" explores the evolution of African-American religious thought, from the beliefs and rituals Africans brought to America to the influence of Christian teachings imposed on slaves in the new world. In order to increase his chances for employment, he enrolled in the Chicago School of Composition and Arranging and thus, for the rest of his life, was able to find work as a composer and arranger. It is completely un-invasive, and you get the sense that if the camera wasn't present at all, these people would be acting exactly the same. July 25, 2003 Thomas Dorsey combined sacred and secular styles to create a revolution in music. ", So, in this recently restored film -- by Milestone Films with support from the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Academy Film Archive, and the Criterion Collection --. Extremely entertaining documentary that takes a look at religious music as we get to meet two key people. Their collaboration would continue over the years as his fame spread, Martin often accompanying him on his tours around the country. Documentaries really don't get much better than this. 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". Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2022. And a good Christmas gift. One of the most acclaimed music documentaries of all time, Say Amen, Somebody is George T. Nierenberg's masterpiece a joyous, funny, deeply emotional celebration of African American culture, featuring the father of Gospel, Thomas A. Dorsey (""Precious Lord, Take My Hand""); Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith; and soul-shaking performances by the Barrett Sisters, the O'Neal Twins, and Zella . As he said in The Rise of Gospel Blues: "If a woman has lost a man, a man has lost a woman, his feeling reacts to the blues; he feels like expressing it. But Dorsey's conversion was fleeting; he was soon playing with the Whispering Syncopators, making a salary commensurate with professional theater musicians. [citation needed] Patty Thomas was born Patricia Thomas on August 1, 1922, in Erie, Pennsylvania.She also was in the films: Smooth Sailing, a 1947 short film by Jerry Hopper and the 2003 film . It goes beyond the series to explore the full diversity of African-American religious expression. If I may get personal: finally seeing this 1982 gospel music documentary (recently restored and out this month in a theatrical re-release) was like the fulfillment of a decades-long mission, as it was a mainstay of Roger Eberts annual home video companions, his four-star review promising one of the most joyful movies Ive ever seen also one of the best musicals and one of the most interesting documentaries. It is presented on PBS by WGBH and ITVS. 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. "You have this kind of new tradition of people singing and re-invigorating gospel music in a different sort of way," she says. He was ordained a minister in his sixties, formalizing the union of song and worship; the Pilgrim Baptist Church created the T. A. Dorsey Choir to honor him in 1983. My favorite; "I'll Tell It Wherever I Go", with such a special version by the Gaither Vocal Band. The night Rainey opened at Chicago's largest black theater Dorsey is remembered as "the most exciting moment in my life". India's economy is likely moving into a low inflation regime as supply shocks fade and demand cools, according to a paper co-authored by Reserve Bank of India Deputy . More at As George T. Nierenberg guides us through its relatively brief history, we come to see that. It covers interviews of key missionary workers and their experiences of how they became missionary workers, their personal struggles within the churches and how they survived the ministering call to help people. 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. [13][14][d], Unsure if gospel music could sustain him, Dorsey was nonetheless pleased to discover that he made an impression at the National Baptist Convention in 1930 when, unknown to him, Willie Mae Ford Smith sang "If You See My Savior" during a morning meeting. Thomas Dorsey | PBS During the early 1930s, Thomas Dorsey created gospel music -- the African American religious music which married secular blues to a sacred text. It featured syncopated notes in an eight-bar blues structure; but instead of themes of defiance in the face of despair - the theme most common in the blues - this new music told stories of hope and affirmation. [42] He insisted that songs be memorized rather than chorus members reading music or lyrics while performing. After months of difficult travel and deep soul-searching, the pilgrims reach Africa with a stronger sense of identity and purpose. hide caption. [57], List of people considered a founder in a Humanities field, This article is about the pianist, and composer of jazz, blues, and gospel. Since its debut it has been translated into 50 languages. 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. There the family struggled economically. By far the best documentary Ive seen! Dorsey began developing a sacred music based on the secular blues. IMDb I realize the color barrier in the early days and say it's a shame folks couldn't understand him better.His music has helped me along in tough times and I appreciate all he has done in the world of gospel music. ", Wade In The Water Ep. My soul was a deluge of divine rapture; my emotions were aroused; my heart was inspired to become a great singer and worker in the Kingdom of the Lord--and impress people just as this great singer did that Sunday morning." Services were thus altered in multiple ways to welcome the influx of migrants, for spiritual and pragmatic reasons: attracting and keeping new members helped reconcile many churches' debts. The tune he wrote, Take My Hand, Precious Lord, came, he says, direct from God. There were the olde hymns of the Church. He spent his afternoons and evenings watching vaudeville performances. Thomas A. Dorsey, who wrote scores of gospel classics, including "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" and "Peace in the Valley," and Willie Mae Ford Smith, whose dynamic "song and sermon" approach to gospel set an almost impossible to duplicate performance standard. "[21][22], In addition to the high spirited choir performances, Dorsey began introducing uptempo Negro spirituals, what he referred to as "jubilees", alongside published hymns in worship services. Yoruba originated in West Africa and pre-dates Christianity. These migrants were refugees from poverty and the systemic racism endemic throughout the Jim Crow South. [46][i], Due to Dorsey's influence, the definition of gospel music shifted away from sacred song compositions to religious music that causes a physical release of pain and suffering, particularly in black churches. Nevertheless, imparting a bluesy feel to a traditional arrangement was shocking to many, though Dorsey was able to vary the effect depending on his audience and their reaction. Dorsey's background convinced him that the same experiences that had engendered secular blues should also inform church music. Willie Mae reminded me so much of my grandmother, the moment she began to sing I immediately got teary eyed. Try it free. As Dorsey related in The Rise of Gospel Blues: "My inner-being was thrilled. Choir members were encouraged to be physically active while singing, rocking and swaying with the music. Thomas A. Dorsey documentary rough cut 6,122 views Oct 31, 2010 79 Dislike jpilkonis 42 subscribers Villa Rica, Georgia We reimagined cable. +2.80 +3.45%. . 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. 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. But he lives on each Sunday as voices rise in praise, singing the gospel across the land. [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. One night, onstage, Dorsey noticed an "unsteadiness" in his playing. The efforts of student workers on the front lines of the civil rights movement are shown from the perspective of Rev. They would tour together in the 1940s. Thomas A. Dorsey 1997 Share 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. [27], During his blues period, Dorsey presented himself as dapper and dignified, which carried over into his gospel work. Dorsey's mother took work as a domestic servant; his father curtailed his pastoring and worked as a laborer. Reflection There is no word more precious than peace, nor a more joyous state of being for a Christian, than to know God's peace. [5][7], Two of his secular songs were recorded by Monette Moore and another by Joe "King" Oliver, ensuring Dorsey a place as one of Chicago's top blues composers. In time, they discover that the true wounds lie within themselves. "From a childhood day I dreamed of being a great singer, and singing over in Europe. Thomas Dorsey and Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith, 100mins "Ministers didn't want them there. [1] Billed as "Tampa Red and Georgia Tom" and "The Famous Hokum Boys", the duo found great success together, eventually collaborating on 60 songs between 1928 and 1932, and coining the term "Hokum" to describe their guitar/piano combination with simple, racy lyrics. And I think the choir meant so much to those people because for a few hours on Sunday, they were royalty. Prathia Hall(1940-2002) and others.. Hall is one of many voices in the film-voices of ordinary people who, through faith, risked their lives to challenge America to live up to its promise "that all men are created equal." I'll never get out of this place alive. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Yoruba worshipers find a means of gaining strength and spirituality from within. [e] His grief prompted him to write one of his most famous and enduring compositions, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord". In San Francisco, the Reverend Cecil Williams develops a "come as you are" church. Documentary clip on Thomas Dorsey 26,519 views Oct 6, 2014 405 Dislike Share Save mattsak12 860 subscribers taken from "The Story of Gospel Music" Show more 2015 NHD Thomas A Dorsey. '"[35][g], He remarried in 1941 to Katheryn Mosley. He did not seek publicity, preferring to remain at his position as music director at the 3,000-seat Pilgrim Baptist Church and running his publishing company. He married his sweetheart, Nettie Harper. Everything I do - that's good, at least - is a reflection of His hand. It is the story of two sourthern migrants, Rev. By the time Ma Rainey finished her song, she was "in her sins" - and Georgia Tom was right there with her, his rhythmic piano filling the grooves. In the film, he tells the story of how the death of his wife and their newborn child led him to church music. The "comma somebody" in the title indicates a sense of desperation, much like Jeb Bush's "Please clap," or the kid in class acting out in search of a love they cannot fathom. I miss her everyday. 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. The pilgrims took a physical and spiritual voyage, walking from Massachusetts to New Orleans, through the Caribbean, and ultimately, to Goree Island in Senegal. Selected discography. Poe, Janita, "Thomas A Dorsey, Gospel Pioneer", National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Precious Lord: New Recordings of the Great Songs of Thomas A. Dorsey, Living legends of Chicago gospel honor tradition, carry on family legacies, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Spirit of Dorsey's Songs Fills His Funeral Service, Living Legends of Chicago Gospel Honor Tradition, Carry on Family Legacies, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductee List, Frequently Asked Questions: National Recording Registry, Complete National Recording Registry Listing: National Recording Registry, "If I Could Hear My Mother Pray AgainThomas Dorsey (1934)", "Peace in the Valley"Red Foley and the Sunshine Boys (1951), "Precious Lord: New Recordings of the Great Gospel Songs of Thomas A. Dorsey", "'It's Tight Like That' by Tampa Red and Georgia Tom", "'Future Blues' Willie Brown (Paramount 1930)", Biography by the Chicago Historical Society, "The Father of the Chicago Gospel Singing Movement", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_A._Dorsey&oldid=1150701726, Governor's Award for the Arts in Chicago, given 1985, "If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again" (1934), added in 2007 recorded by Dorsey, written by John Whitfield Vaughan in 1922, "Peace In The Valley" by Red Foley and the Sunshine Boys (1951), added in 2006, Ferris, William, and Hart, Mary L., eds. Indeed, in the late 1920s, he would begin work with one of the great gospel soloists of all time, Mahalia Jackson. It was not long before he penned his first gospel blues, "If You See My Savior, Tell Him That You Saw Me," which was inspired by the death of a friend. Search the characters on YT, wonderful performances via 78's. hide caption. Personal expressions such as clapping, stomping, and improvising with lyrics, rhythm, and melody were actively discouraged as being unrefined and degrading to the music and the singer. We see the lives and performances of two gospel greats, Willie May Ford Smith and Thomas Dorsey. In actual fact, his first musical impact was as a blues stylist as both writer and performer. Haley. 209240. Gospel music did not start with Dorsey. This journey is also critical to an understanding of what Michael W. Harris called "the rise of gospel blues" in his book of that title, which chronicles the role Dorsey's music played in urban churches. 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. Aside from the lyrics, he saw no real distinction between blues and church music, and viewed songs as a supplement to spoken word preaching. Courtesy Milestone Films Labowskie, Mark, ". Dorsey married again in 1941. Dorsey described it as serving as a channel through which God spoke. 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. [26][27], Simultaneously, a shift in Chicago's black churches was taking place. Dorsey died of Alzheimer's in 1993, listening to music on a Walkman. (Staig, Laurence, "Obituary: Thomas Dorsey", Dorsey later filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the Illinois Research Clinic in response. 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.