Would His Enchantment Of "Wordly" Music Send This Holy Man To Hell?

Thomas Dorsey was living a double life as blues and jazz musician “Georgia Tom,” and he was having a nervous breakdown. His parents told him to seek God, but they WOULD say that - his father was a Baptist preacher. What about HIS life?

After attending a vaudeville show by Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith, Dorsey was entranced.  He set out to bridge the blues and jazz he loved with the songs he heard during Sunday service.

The birth of gospel music came as a result of Dorsey pushing against these boundaries and redefining norms around Black spirituality.

But it wasn’t easy.

The show-biz life was too overwhelming for Dorsey. He struggled with depression and considered ending it all – until a revelation convinced him to focus on his faith.

In 1932 he arranged his magnum opus – “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” – after the tragic death of his wife and son during childbirth. It became an instant classic and was much beloved by Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin, and Martin Luther King’s favorite song.

Remembered as The Father Of Gospel Music, Dorsey’s nuanced life is a testament to our ability to transform pain into beauty in a way that has the power to heal and uplift our communities. Take a moment to lean into your innermost desires. Where is God leading you?

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