Director George T. Nierenberg Stars Willie Mae Ford Smith Smith Thomas A. Dorsey Sallie Martin See production, box office & company info Search on Amazon search for Blu-ray and DVD Add to Watchlist Thank you for remembering and honoring a great legend Van Matre, Lynn, "Praises To Be For 'Father of Gospel'". 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 . Its a documentary set in a time period around 70's of old time gospel . Young Thomas Dorsey describes feeling alienated from school and church during his first years in Atlanta. [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. The documentary features interviews with their friends and families juxtaposed with some awe-inspiring gospel music that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face! Obituary: Thomas Dorsey | The Independent | The Independent In 1916, he left Atlanta for good. Dorsey instead asked his singers to rely on feeling.[43]. Nierenberg's other main character was Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith, one of gospel's pioneering female ministers and performers, and a mentor to younger singers. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. "Dedication: Thomas Dorsey Dedication Day". Documentary about the American gospel music scene, focusing on two of the movement's pioneering forces, Thomas A. Dorsey and Willie May Ford Smith. . : "The Secularization of Black Gospel Music" by Heilbut, Anthony in, This page was last edited on 19 April 2023, at 17:18. See production, box office & company info. His "gospel music" met so much resistance from pastors who considered it "devil's music," that he found it easier to play the blues straight. I don't go and take it just straight; I got to put something in it to get over. 16: The Gospel Song Legacy Of Thomas Andrew Dorsey, Wade In The Water Ep. 209240. "[37][27] Dorsey began to slow down in the 1970s, eventually showing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. 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. Their collaboration would continue over the years as his fame spread, Martin often accompanying him on his tours around the country. In Chicago, Dorsey found success almost immediately. They created enclaves within neighborhoods through church choirs, which doubled as social clubs, offering a sense of purpose and belonging. The Dorsey family relocated from rural Villa Rica, GA to Atlanta in 1908. He introduced rituals and standards among gospel choirs that are still in use. It is the story of two sourthern migrants, Rev. It left me wanting more. SAY AMEN, SOMEBODY is without question one of the greatest documentaries that you're going to see when it comes to gospel music. 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). February 25, 2020 Almost 40 years since its cinematic release, a restoration brings this documentary featuring Thomas A. Dorsey and Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith back to life. Birth of the Gospel Blues. Doing the Lord's work, absolutely. Nix elongated some notes to emphasize specific syllables and words and sped up others. This Far by Faith . About the Series | PBS 1982 Directed by George T. Nierenberg Synopsis Pure joy Documentary on modern black gospel music, focusing on the pioneering Rev. It only made sense to watch George Nierenberg's celebrated 1982 documentary on gospel music Say Amen, Somebody before that, as of course this genre was crucial to her upbringing, family, and culture, singing gospel in her father's church as a child and finding her voice in this medium long before she was "The Queen of Soul. "I just tried to make my little talk to the Lord but it was wasted, I think," Dorsey tells the audience. "You have this kind of new tradition of people singing and re-invigorating gospel music in a different sort of way," she says. (Staig, Laurence, "Obituary: Thomas Dorsey", Dorsey later filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the Illinois Research Clinic in response. Ma Rainey's Pianist Thomas Dorsey "Say Amen, Somebody" (1982) For myself. As George T. Nierenberg guides us through its relatively brief history, we come to see that. 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. He remained in contact with his friends and fellow blues musicians, saying, "I'm not ashamed of my blues. 2015 NHD Thomas A Dorsey Documentary - by Adero Brooks RicardoBDC 23 subscribers Subscribe 6K views 7 years ago "Make A Joyful Noise" is the 2015 - 1st place winning documentary entered into. The only thing he cared about was saving souls through his music. [4], Directionless, Dorsey began attending shows at the nearby 81 Theater, that featured blues musicians and live vaudeville acts. He penned 3,000 songs, a third of them gospel, including "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" and "Peace in the Valley". Documentary about the American gospel music scene, focusing on two of the movement's pioneering forces, Thomas A. Dorsey and Willie May Ford Smith.Documentary about the American gospel music scene, focusing on two of the movement's pioneering forces, Thomas A. Dorsey and Willie May Ford Smith.Documentary about the American gospel music scene, focusing on two of the movement's pioneering forces, Thomas A. Dorsey and Willie May Ford Smith. "You have the Barrett Sisters; you have the O'Neal Twins. Sacred music could not sustain him financially, however, so he continued to work in blues. Harris even linked the blues soloist to the preacher, as each embodies the yearning of a people and manifests that yearning principally through improvisation. 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 ), 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." 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. From then on, Dorsey vowed to do the Lord's work. "From a childhood day I dreamed of being a great singer, and singing over in Europe. As Dorsey is remembered as the father of gospel music, other honorifics came from his choirs: Sallie Martin, considered the mother of gospel (although Willie Mae Ford Smith, also a Dorsey associate, has also been called this), Mahalia Jackson, the queen of gospel, and James Cleveland, often named the king of gospel. These migrants were refugees from poverty and the systemic racism endemic throughout the Jim Crow South. There were also a growing number of influential choirs in Chicago challenging the musical norms of the established churches, though Dorsey was usually more associated with the rise of the solo tradition. Rehearsals for sales pitches took place in Dorsey's nearly bare room in his uncle's house. Yoruba originated in West Africa and pre-dates Christianity. by George Nelson Allen (1852). [28] Ministers who would not have considered changing their music programs just a few years before became more open to new ideas. We feel the purity of expression here and see very little of the commercial trappings we see in so much of organized religion. 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 soon began composing sacred songs and took a job as director of music at New Hope Baptist Church on Chicago's South Side, where he described the congregation's singing of spirituals "like down home," noting that the congregants also clapped to his music. I owned it years ago on VHS. 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. Chicago ' s Blues Syncopator. Thomas A. Dorsey was one of the gospel pioneers profiled in George Nierenberg's Say Amen, Somebody. Extremely entertaining documentary that takes a look at religious music as we get to meet two key people. hide caption. He was soon making printed copies of his gospel blues, but since he relied on the performer to embellish the music, they did not sell well. Thomas Francis Dorsey Net Worth - Celebrity Net Worth Wiki I first encountered it as an LP from the documentary and have enjoyed it ever since. What really struck me about the musical sequences was not just the incredible vocals and instrumentation from talents operating at the peak of their ability, but the. I grew up going to countless churches when I was younger and it was always something special to walk into a black church and feel the power that was behind the walls. Copyright 2003 The Faith Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Thomas A. Dorsey Biography Pastor Turner helped organize the Repubican Party in Georgia only to find himself denied access to societal institutions as discrimination reigned in the dark days following Reconstruction. [42] He insisted that songs be memorized rather than chorus members reading music or lyrics while performing. Thomas Andrew Dorsey | American musician | Britannica He experienced a spiritual re-invigoration of sorts in 1928. Many well-known and accomplished musicians have spoke of writing experiences that were similar to Thomas Dorsey's. A tour group of 150 demanded he sing "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" right there. 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. I feel I've thoroughly blessed over the years with an abundance of songs and materialThere is definitely God behind this thing that I do. "You know, Frank, this has been my life dream to go abroad," Barrett says to her husband in one scene. The luminaries of gospel are. His emphasis on a black nationalist philosophy alienated him from the mainstream, but led to a greater role for the black church in African-American culture. The documentary shows the joy of gospel music in an age of cynicism. These churches discouraged expressive congregational participation and attempted to incorporate white church traditions in both service and music. They pray for their ancestors and seek to heal the country's wounds of slavery through prayer vigils at historical slave sites. Dorsey began developing a sacred music based on the secular blues. It features one of the first gospel soloists, Willie Mae Ford Smith and the father of gospel music, Thomas Dorsey late in their lives. [1][24][j], Chicago held its first gospel music festival as a tribute to Dorsey in 1985; it has taken place each year since then. He is described as stately and often detached, one writer attesting that from a distance, "Dorsey is not presented as a happy man. There he was impressed by the singing of W. M. Nix. Young Thomas Dorsey describes feeling alienated from school and church during his first years in Atlanta. In fact it won't go anywhere. Music publisher. Mr. Dorsey's work reached a wider audience in 1983 through the documentary film, "Say Amen, Somebody," and in 1992, he was honored with the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences National . 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. Norton, Kay, "'Yes, [Gospel] Is Real': Half a Century with Chicago's Martin and Morris Company". Documentary about the American gospel music scene, focusing on two of the movement's pioneering forces, Thomas A. Dorsey and Willie May Ford Smith. 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.. 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. Ma Rainey's listeners swayed, rocked, moaned and groaned with her. Haley. Dorsey was a popular blues pianist and arranger he was best known as Ma Rainey's band leader, until he took the blues and adapted it to sacred music. In addition, the blues factor of the gospel blues equation had associations with secular venues and activities often discouraged by the church. Documentaries really don't get much better than this. 'Say Amen, Somebody,' George Nierenberg's Gospel Documentary Is Re The efforts of student workers on the front lines of the civil rights movement are shown from the perspective of Rev. Dorsey died of Alzheimer's disease on January 23, 1993. They had two children, a son named Thomas M. "Mickey" and a daughter, Doris. Nierenberg centered his film around two pioneering gospel artists, Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey was born in Villa Rica, Georgia, the first of three children to Thomas Madison Dorsey, a minister and farmer, and Etta Plant Spencer. 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. But he never smiles, rarely relaxes, and when he talks it's with a brooding vigilance bordering on surliness. It is perhaps Dorsey's greatest achievement that he was able to overcome this opposition and thus preserve important aspects of black musical expression as it had existed in both the spiritual and secular realms. The Thomas A. Dorsey Birthplace and Gospel Heritage Festival, now in its 25th year celebrates the Dorsey legacy with 3 days of music in the city that is credited with being the birth home of Coca Cola and the Father of Gospel Music. During the early 1930s, Thomas Dorsey created gospel music -- the African American religious music which married secular blues to a sacred text. While presiding over rehearsals, Dorsey was strict and businesslike. [18][h], Throughout his career, Dorsey composed more than 1,000 gospel and 2,000 blues songs, an achievement Mahalia Jackson considered equal to Irving Berlin's body of work. Dorsey was the son of a Baptist preacher; his mother was the church organist. of American Music History. [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. Six years later, Dorsey left Atlanta for Chicago. By far the best documentary Ive seen! Rainey interacted with her audiences, who were often so enthralled they stood up and shouted back at her while she sang. Thomas A. Dorsey documentary rough cut - YouTube I love this DVD it is full of history and over the top singing. Thomas Dorsey, Father of Gospel Music, Dies at 93 Willie Mae reminded me so much of my grandmother, the moment she began to sing I immediately got teary eyed. Thomas Markle Sr has said he will not allow his daughter, Meghan Markle, to "bury" him while he is still alive.. Looked for it for years. Loved it. There, Dorsey remained active until the 1970s, when failing health forced him into semi-retirement. 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. [34] After writing to his sister that he was lonely and wanted to be around children, she sent Dorsey's niece Lena McLin to live with him. Dorsey served as the music director at Chicago's Pilgrim Baptist Church for 50 years, introducing musical improvisation and encouraging personal elements of participation such as clapping, stomping, and shouting in churches when these were widely condemned as unrefined and common. I say this all the time, as someone who grew up in and out of the church, no matter how far Ive strayed from Christianity and the church itself, I will always love gospel music. Report this film, "You mean to tell me you don't know 'bout this good news? Then there were the new hymns of the 1800's. In The Rise of Gospel Blues Harris noted, "Other than slave spirituals, the white Protestant hymns and shaped note music, Dorsey describes a type of 'moaning' as the only other style of religious song he recalls."