African Americans have made extraordinary contributions to the history and culture of the United States as part of the nation and apart from it. This month, Auction Finds presents “28 days (Plus 1)” of this collaborative history. The additional day is intended to break Black history out of the stricture of a month into its rightful place as an equal partner in the history of America. Each day, I will offer artifacts culled from the auction tables and my research, along with the stories they hold.
Feb. 11, 2022
When Blacks published their own gospel music
Black publishing companies sought out composers to write music that they could sell to church gospel choirs in an industry that was only beginning to take root during the 1930s. Chicago became the center of gospel-music publishing and home to some of the largest houses, including the Dorsey House of Music owned by Thomas A. Dorsey, Martin & Morris owned by Kenneth Morris and Sallie Martin, and Bowles owned by Lillian M. Bowles.
The publishing fever began with Dorsey, the man who wrote one of the most amazing gospel songs of all time – “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” – pulling this sorrowful tune out of the pain he was experiencing in 1932 after the death of his wife and son in childbirth.
Dorsey was both exasperated and dissatisfied with how he was treated by mainstream publishing companies and the lackluster way they were distributing his music. In 1932, he established his own company to sell both his music and that of other gospel singers. He was a founder of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, which held sessions each year to teach choirs how to sing gospel music. Read the full story.
