Mahalia Jackson, The Queen Of Gospel
Born as Mahala Jackson and nicknamed "Halie", Jackson grew up in the Black Pearl section of the Carrollton neighborhood of Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana.
'The Songs of Hope': "Blues are the songs of despair," she declared. "Gospel songs are the songs of hope. When you sing gospel you have the feeling there is a cure for what's wrong, but when you are through with the blues, you've got nothing to rest on."
'Mahalia Jackson sang at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy (1961), Dr. Martin Luther King's March On Washington rally at the Lincoln Memorial (1963), and was known by Harry Belafonte as the 'Single Most Powerful Black Woman In The United States'.
"Mahalia Jackson, often called the greatest gospel singer, returned to her hometown to appear at the first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in April of 1970. While attending the Louisiana Heritage Fair in Congo Square (then known as Beauregard Square), she and Duke Ellington, who also appeared at the event, came upon the Eureka Brass Band leading a crowd of second-line revelers through the Festival grounds. George Wein, producer of the Festival, handed Ms. Jackson a microphone, she sang along with the band and joined the parade…and the spirit of Jazz Fest was born.
This spontaneous, momentous scene—this meeting of jazz and heritage—has stood for decades since as a stirring symbol of the authenticity of the celebration that was destined to become a cultural force."
A visit to Mahalia Jackson's old neighborhood in New Orleans
Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame
Elijah Rock
We Shall Overcome
O' Holy Night
O' Holy Night (BACK TO BACK TO BACK) Norma Ledesma, Mahalia Jackson & Whitney Houston
Silent Night
Whole World In His Hands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEH7jyt1eoo
When The Saints Go Marching In
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktfFEEfl1uM&feature=fvwrel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6xpEwmxhkg&feature=related
When The Saints Go Marching In
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktfFEEfl1uM&feature=fvwrel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6xpEwmxhkg&feature=related
Amazing Grace
Mahalo
Mahalo
[Pronounced: mah hah' loh]
"If you learn just two words in Hawaiian, learn these. They are two of the most important words in the Hawaiian language, representing paramount Hawaiian values.
In Hawaiian thinking, words have mana [pronounced: mah' nah], meaning spiritual or divine power], and aloha and mahalo are among the most sacred and powerful.
Say them often as they can be life-transforming and -enhancing. Be careful to use them ONLY if you truly feel mahalo or aloha within. Do not exploit these words for personal gain, and neither cheapen, nor trivialize their use by verbalizing them carelessly or without sincerity.
Aloha and mahalo are ineffable, indescribable, and undefinable with words alone; to be understood, they must be experienced.
Deeper meaning and sacredness is hinted at by the root words of these words. Linguists differ in their opinions as to the exact meanings and origins, but this is what was told to me by my kupuna (elder):
On a spiritual level, aloha is an invocation of the Divine and mahalo is a Divine blessing. Both are acknowledgments of the Divinity that dwells within and without.
Mahalo
[Ma = In] + [hâ = breath] + [alo = presence, front, face]
"(May you be) in (Divine) Breath."
Think of them as single-word blessings or prayers.
"Mahalo. 1. Thanks, gratitude; to thank.
Mahalo nui loa.
[mah hah' loh noo'(w)ee loh'(w)ah]
Thanks very much.
`Ôlelo mahalo
[OH' leh loh mah hah' loh]
compliment
Mahalo â nui
[mah hah' loh (W)AH' noo'(w)ee]
Thanks very much.
2. Admiration, praise, esteem, regards, respects; to admire, praise, appreciate.
`O wau nô me ka mahalo,
[oh vau NOH' meh kah mah hah'loh]
I am, [yours] respectfully,
Ka mea i mahalo `ia, Laki
[kah meh'(y)ah ee mah hah'loh ee'(y)ah, lah' kee]
The esteemed Laki.""
*
Source(s):
Source: Pukui, Mary Kawena & Elbert, Samuel H., HAWAIIAN DICTIONARY, University of Hawai`i Press, Honolulu, 1986
