Thomas Dorsey

After the Civil War, Negro Gospels seemed to disappear and it wasn’t until the 1900’s that we see them resurface. 

Thomas A. Dorsey started out as Blue’s musician in the 1920s, but after a breakdown, “vowed to do the Lord's work,” according to The Faith Project. “Dorsey began developing a sacred music based on the secular blues. It featured syncopated notes in an eight-bar blues structure; but instead of themes of defiance in the face of despair — the theme most common in the blues — this new music told stories of hope and affirmation. Dorsey described it as ‘good news on either side.’ His first gospel song, ‘If You See my Savior Tell Him That You Saw Me’ was published in 1932.” Dorsey looked to the Negro Spirituals, songs he had heard growing up in a Baptist church, as inspiration for this music. 

But Dorsey’s new music was not met with open arms. In fact, many pastors considered it “devil music” and prohibited it from being sung in their church. As a result of this, Dorsey went back to being in the secular blues industry. But this didn’t last long. In August 1932, Dorsey’s wife and son died during childbirth. From his grief, he wrote, “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” a song which he said cam directly from God.

I sat down at the piano and my hands began to browse over the keys. Then something happened. I felt as though I could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody, one I'd never heard or played before, and words came into my head — they just seemed to fall into place.

—Thomas A. Dorsey

What is so unique about Dorsey is that it was out of two extremely low points in his life that he created Gospel Music. The first, was after his breakdown and the second, after the death of his wife and child. Out of the pain and injustice of the enslaved came Negro Spirituals and out of the tragedy of his life Thomas Dorsey created Gospel Music. When we look at this connection it is hard not to be moved by it, just as it is almost impossible not to be moved by these songs when we hear them. 

Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;” so it is no surprise that when listening to, or singing songs created by those crushed in spirit — those who are lifting God up and choosing hope in the midst of tragedy — we feel the power of His presence so closely.