Behind the Greatest Gospel Songs Of the 20th Century

It takes more than just a powerful rendition to make a song great. The song’s composition also plays a role in

achieving greatness and staying power in the minds of its listener, regardless of their generation. Songwriters

are just like singers in many respects - a great writer remembered for his/her skill and innovative ways he/she

utilizes music.

The likes of Thomas A. Dorsey, Doris Akers, and Charles Albert Tindley just to name a few are behind some of

the greatest songs in gospel music. Though a large part of the songs’ popularity may be attributed to the artists

that interpreted the compositions, there’s no denying that part of the success of the songs lies in its structure and

the innovative ways it used music.

Thomas A. Dorsey is considered as the Father of Black Gospel Music. He is the composer of some of the most

memorable gospel songs in the business. It’s not very common for a music style to be named after the composer

who wrote the songs, but during the height of his popularity, his compositions were known as “Dorseys”.

He was an innovator, deviating from the standard hymnal practices of his time and combining jazz and blues

rhythms with Christian praise. One of his best-known titles is “Take My Hand, Precious Lord”. Mahalia

Jackson, the artist who made it popular was the Queen of Gospel Music at the time and her version was a

favorite of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and former President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Another gospel standard title attributed to Dorsey is “Peace in the Valley” who wrote it for Mahalia Jackson in

1937. Mahalia Jackson and Thomas A. Dorsey are names frequently attached to some of the greatest gospel

songs of all times.

Another composer who also worked closely with Mahalia Jackson was Doris Akers. A successful gospel singer

in her own right, Doris Akers became one of the leading female composers of the late 50s thanks largely to her

collaborations with Mahalia Jackson who not only co-wrote with her, but was also the artist that made popular a

great bulk of Akers’ songs.

Akers who wrote one of the greatest gospel songs “Lord, Don’t Move The Mountain” is considered as of one

the most prolific gospel composers of the recent century. Other title's of her works are “God Spoke To Me One

Day”, “Lead On, Lord Jesus”, “Trouble”, and many more.

And then there are those multi-talented artists in the music scene who are considered the single name behind

some of their own works. An example of this is Andrae Crouch who is known for some of the greatest gospel

songs, such as “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power”, “My Tribute”, “Through It All”, and many more.

His contributions were considered to revolutionize gospel music, adding a contemporary sound to them that

touched so many lives outside of their traditional African American base. Andrae went on to form a successful

career in mainstream music, but his contributions to the gospel music genre continue to be recorded and

reinterpreted by artists today.

Written by Gary Harbin www.garyharbin.com Behind the Greatest Gospel Songs Of the 20th Century