Musical accompaniment: Precious Lord, Take My Hand by the great Mahalia Jackson
A quick note on today’s musician, Mahalia Jackson. She’s a legendary gospel singer and she deserves her own post. Even if you’ve never heard Mahalia Jackson, you’ve certainly felt her influence from singers like Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Little Richard, just to name a few.
This 1898 photograph by Rudolf Eickemeyer Jr. is titled Uncle Essick. In tiny letters beneath the photo it says, “From Alabama.” I believe the item in his right hand is a cane, but it’s hard to be sure.
You wonder what his life was like. I’m really poor at guessing ages, but he looks sharp and observant to me. I bet not much got past him!
old spirituals 
my grandmother had a record of mahalia jackson she used to play. great voice !
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Music sounds different to me on a record player. My friend Madey got one while we were in college when everyone had CD players. She said, “It feels like something else is there.” She’s right. It has an atmosphere, a magic to it you don’t get with mp3 files.
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Mahalia Jackson was a talented, lovely woman that lived the life she sang about. I always enjoyed hearing her sing even when I was young.
Uncle Essick has fine features. I see a pipe and a walking stick.
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Everyone who is familiar with Mahalia Jackson speaks reverently about her. She was a real talent. I missed that pipe but my mom called me and told me it was there!
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