Customer Reviews

Got to Tell it: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel

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Schwerin apparently had a unique relationship with Mahalia Jackson, one that offered him insight into her actions and motivations. Unfortunately, he had his own agenda, and it seems to have precluded him from getting to the facts. For example, he comments on Mahalia's role in Imitation of Life, and one wonders whether he ever saw the movie. His inaccuracies make the reader question passages of the book about areas of her life that are not so well known by the public. His writing is careless.

Mahalia Jackson was said to indeed be a very suspicious woman. That is why she had peculiar habits such as accepting cash only for performances. Even the author testifies to her distrust. Why therefore even if some of the things said were true I don't think that Mahalia would have revealed her faults and shortcomings to man whom she knew very little about. The book creates an evil picture of Mahalia. It would break the heart of any Mahalia Jackson fan. The author also claims to have been friendly with Mahalia's godson - Brother John Sellers, who was one of the interviewees for the book and who supposedly helped to degrade Mahalia. If Brother John did indeed love Halie like the mother he never had, I don't think that he would stoop so low as to want to defame her for the sake of a novel.

I do agree with the critic above who says that there are alot of wrong facts stated stated in the book. Here are some corrections that need to be made.

Mahalia was born in 1911.
Her mother had only sisters.
She went to Chicago at age 16.
Jules never mentioned Mahalia's first recording date in 1937 for Decca Records

She divorced her first husband in 1941
She toured Europe with Big Bill Broonzey in 1952 not 1955
She played herself in the movie, Imitation of Life - she was also in four other films.

She received her first Grammy Award in 1962
She received another in 1963, a Grammy Lifetime Acheivement Award in 1972 and another Grammy in 1976.

She did not start courting her second husband until the early 60's.
She did not perform in a Pink Organza gown in the 1970 Newport Jazz Festival - it was sea blue/turquoise with diamond-like sequins along her collar, center and cuffs of her sleeve.
There are other misinfo's that he is guilty of printing...shame on you Mr. Schwerin.

Excellent book, well written, factual and above all, made Mahalia human. That is most important. Mahalia was a great witness and a great lady all around at it was a good read. Mahalia is my queen for sure!
Paul Konrad