[Dixielandjazz] Thomas Dorsey

[Gluetje1 at aol.com]

Facts are hard to come by using the web.  For example, one site below  
declares his conversion experience at age 16, first gospel tune the next week,  
Tight Like That and others years later.  Same source says the wife's death  that 
inspired, Precious Lord occurred in 1932.  Other source says,  1930.  There are 
any number of web sources on him--I just picked a quick  two.  Indisputable 
is what he did for gospel music!  I spent  hard-earned allowance money on sheet 
music for "Peace in the Valley" about 1951  or so.  Cost was $0.50.
 
No time for a lot of research, but no dispute either of your  explanation 
that his focus forever changed after death of wife and infant  son.
Ginny
_http://www.honkytonks.org/showpages/tadorsey.htm_ 
(http://www.honkytonks.org/showpages/tadorsey.htm) 
 
_http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/award_recipient_detail.asp?ceremonyId=9&
awardRecipientId=75_ 
(http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/award_recipient_detail.asp?ceremonyId=9&awardRecipientId=75) 
 
 
In a message dated 7/17/2006 2:10:43 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
Donpowell101 at aol.com writes:

Dorsey  was the father of gospel music.
He went back and forth between secular and  gospel,
'until' his wife and son died in childbirth. 
That experience  brought forth "Precious Lord, Take My Hand",
and finished forever Dorsey's  involvement with secular music.
Another Dorsey composition that was a huge  success was 'Peace In The Valley.'
a hit for Red Foley, Ernie Ford, and  especially Elvis Presley.