Mahalia Jackson is a force of sound and emotion. She could crumble walls and move hardened men to tears. It's not just her voice, it's her heart that rips through you. It's hard to find a recording that does her justice, but you can tell even in the scratchy old audio, this girl is in the angels' choir. She often marched with MLK, Jr. You've gotta check out her Christmas stuff too, she's incredible.
One more today, Billie Holiday is a LEGEND. Her voice- it's so hurt, strong, ripped, deliberate- she could sing you to sleep, slap you to your feet, or kick you to your knees. "Solitude", "Summertime", "Taint Nobody's Business If I Do", "Lover Man" and "Strange Fruit" are some of my favorite pieces by her. She could do no wrong. Her life was hard and she died young, leaving just a few old records. I wish I coulda seen this girl in person. Amazing. I love her expressions in this video. She's so appreciative of the other musicians and you can tell she loves singing.
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