Thomas Dorsey

Thomas Dorsey

Source: Black Kudos

Born in Villa Rica, Georgia, on 1 July 1899, pianist, Thomas Andrew Dorsey (alias Georgia Tom), had a minister for a father and a piano teacher for a mother. He studied music in Chicago before becoming an agent for Paramount Records. DAHR traces recordings by Dorsey to as far back as 1923. 'I Just Want a Daddy' went down in June of 1923 with Alice Carter in NYC. 'Riverside Blues' w King Oliver’s Jazz Band followed in October in Chicago.

'I Just Want a Daddy'   Thomas Dorsey backing Alice Carter

Recorded June 1923 in NYC    Issued on OKeh 8074

Composition: Dorsey

'Riverside blues'   Thomas Dorsey in King Oliver’s Jazz Band

Recorded Oct 1923 in Chicago    Issued on OKeh 40034

Composition: Dorsey

Dorsey formed the Wildcats Jazz Band with Ma Rainey in 1923, with which he toured for three years, meanwhile making a few recordings in '24 and '26 before his first w Tampa Red. Titles gone down on 9 January of 1928 were all issued on Vocalion: 'Juicy Lemon Blues (1268), 'Chicago Moan Blues' (1244), 'Strange Woman Blues' (1418) and 'Jelly Whippin’ Blues' (1251). 'It's Tight Like That' went down for the first time to issue on 6 November 1928. Dorsey and Red recorded 'It's Tight Like That' with numerous outfits, a highly popular song that would sell seven million copies. More followed with Red and Rainey in that year.

'Chicago Moan Blues'   Thomas Dorsey as Georgia Tom w Tampa Red

Recorded 9 Jan 1928    Vocalion 1244

Composition: Red

'Jelly Whippin' Blues'   Thomas Dorsey w Tampa Red

Recorded 9 Jan 1928    Vocalion 1251 & Supertone S2213

Composition: Red

'Leaving This Morning'   Ma Rainey backed by Thomas Dorsey & Tampa Red

Recorded Sep 1928    Paramount 12902

Composition: Ma Rainey

'Sweet Rough Man'   Ma Rainey backed by Thomas Dorsey & Tampa Red

Recorded Sep 1928    Paramount 12926

Composition: Ma Rainey

'It's Tight Like That'   Thomas Dorsey w Tampa Red

Recorded 6 Nov 1928    Vocalion 1216

Composition: Dorsey & Whittaker (Tampa Red)

'Kunjine Baby'   Frankie Half Pint Jaxon w Thomas Dorsey & Tampa Red

Recorded 23 Dec 1929 Chicago    Vocalion 1450

'Composition: Ma Rainey

Composition: Dorsey & Whittaker (Tampa Red)

'Maybe It's the Blues'   Thomas Dorsey as Georgia Tom w Scrapper Blackwell & Jane Lucas

Recorded 5 1930 Richmond, Indiana    Champion 50054

'Composition: Dorsey

Dorsey's blues recordings are less the reason that he's in this history than his importance to black gospel. It was his performance at the National Baptist Convention in 1930 that would find him becoming known as the "father" of black gospel music. Whether transported to America from Europe or arising out of the South, though such as the Fisk Jubilee Singers made their rounds in the 19th century, black gospel didn't become an especially notable genre in and of itself in recording until the thirties due to such as black gospel artists like Arizona Dranes, the barbershop Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet and Dorsey's ignition of black gospel in Chicago of major note in the annals of music history. Prior to such, gospel had gained its exposure largely through secular blues and folk musicians. Dorsey's involvement remarked the common roots shared by black gospel and the blues in the troubled waters of black experience, as well as their separate interests and styles: that the blues were for juke joints and gospel for churches was a demarcation that Dorsey wished to made clear. Though not utterly successful in that, since blues and black gospel are siblings, Dorsey's endeavors to create a black gospel genre came to a giant accomplishment overall, particularly if consider later artists who now had a recognized field in which to sing.

Other than forming a choir and the Dorsey House of Music publishing company in 1932, Dorsey was elected president of the Gospel Choral Union of Chicago. The next year in '33 he founded the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses. As he replaced his recording career with touring, he would later travel with Mahalia Jackson in the forties, as well as tour internationally.

As indicated above, Dorsey did a lot of composing, such as with Rainey, then McKinney's Cotton Pickers. Other early compositions as Georgia Tom were 'Pat That Bread' and 'My Texas Blues' in 1929, recorded with Big Bill Broonzy. Though taking gospel on the road brought a departure from recording, Dorsey continued to compose. Among his more famous hymns is 'Peace in the Valley' written for Jackson in 1937. Of infrequent recordings in later life, Dorsey authored the gospel titles below:

'Take My Hand, Precious Lord'   Dorsey backing Marion Williams   1973

Composition: Dorsey   Album: 'Precious Lord'

'It's a Highway to Heaven'   Dorsey backing Alex Bradford   1973

Composition: Dorsey   Album: 'Precious Lord'

'I'll Tell It Wherever I Go'   Dorsey backing Sallie Martin   1973

Composition: Dorsey   Album: 'Precious Lord'

'The Lord Will Make a Way'   Thomas Dorsey    Solo piano-vocal   1980

Composition: Dorsey