Pasted on the yellow sheet were the words: YOUR WIFE JUST DIED. But eager to get on my way, and not wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly slipped out of the room with my music. .." By the time we reach the third stanza, the terrain has changed from a stormy sea (stanza one), a long road (stanza two), to a river of hope (stanza three). The login page will open in a new tab. Guide my feet, hold my hand. by Thomas Andrew DorseyThe United Methodist Hymnal, No. Please log in again. This cd was purchased to keep an additional cd on hand for when this cd is requested. He is not the same man as the famous big band leader Tommy Dorsey. As the child of a preacher Thomas attended elementary school where he would learn academics and observe the benefits associated with being the child of a … Listen to Take My Hand, Precious Lord from Thomas A. Dorsey's Precious Lord Recordings Of The Great Gospel Songs Of Thomas A. Dorsey for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. He moved to Chicago in 1915 and studied at the Chicago College of Composition and Arranging and began playing in nightclubs under a variety of names as a young man, including, "Georgia Tom," "Texas Tommy" and "Barrelhouse Tom." Known as the "Father of Black Gospel Music," Dorsey combined African American church hymns such as those by Methodist minister, Charles A. Tindley (1851-1933), with blues and jazz. The singer acknowledges that they are at the end of their rope: "I’m tired, I’m weak, I’m worn." However, this story has circulated the web for years falsely giving credit to Big Bandleader, Tommy Dorsey. Thomas A. Dorsey. Martin Luther King Jr. drew inspiration from this, his favorite song. Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home. And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home. Lyrics Begin: Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, help me stand. I felt that God had done me an injustice. My wife, Nettie, and I were living in a little apartment on Chicago’s Southside. The song has since been translated into 32 languages and was the Rev. Dorsey (1899-1993) was born in Georgia. From that moment on I vowed to listen more closely to Him. Hear my cry, hear my call. Something kept telling me to stay with Nettie. Thomas A. Dorsey, who also adapted the melody. But Thomas A. Dorsey was quite famous in his own right- first as a jazz and blues musician and songwriter, then in the second part of his life … History of Hymns: 'Ah, Holy Jesus' [Jesu]. Dorsey’s father was an itinerant preacher and his mother was the church organist. Recordings of these sold millions of copies in both gospel and secular markets in the 20th century. View staff by program area to ask for additional assistance. 474. Dorsey, who was born in Villa Rica, Georgia, was the music director at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago from 1932 until the late 1970s. Thomas A. Dorsey. The gospel great Thomas Andrew Dorsey did indeed weather the death of his wife, Nettie, and their newborn child, and these sad events served to … Martin Luther King Jr. Another composition, “Peace in the Valley”, was a hit for Red Foley in 1951 and has been performed by dozens of other artists, including Queen of Gospel Albertina Walker, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash. The song has since been translated into 32 languages and was the Rev. The song has since been translated into 32 languages and was the Rev. Together they would produce what would later become known as the father of gospel music. He began the Thomas A. Dorsey Gospel Song Music Publishing Company, a publisher of inexpensive gospel blues music. Everyone was kind to me, especially a friend, Professor Frye, who seemed to know what I needed. Find Rev. In … All Rights Reserved, Terms of Use Privacy Policy Cookie Policy. The lyrics of this hymn call out to the Lord for guidance and strength through difficult times. President Lyndon B. Johnson requested that "Precious Lord" be sung at his funeral. I found Nettie sleeping peacefully. (877) 899-2780, Discipleship Ministries is an agency of The United Methodist Church© 2021 Discipleship Ministries. After suffering a severe illness in 1926, Dorsey was converted in 1928 and became active in Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago. Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home. Born in Villa Rica, Georgia, Dorsey was reared in Atlanta from the age of five, where he came in contact with the musical sounds of the blues. Precious Lord, take my hand with MAITLAND. The third stanza begins, "When the darkness appears," reminiscent of Psalm 23:4: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death . Martin Luther King Jr.’s favorite… the one Mahalia Jackson sang at his funeral. The Lord gave me these words and melody. New Releases. Listen to Precious Lord . When my light is almost gone. I found myself playing a melody, one I’d never heard or played before, and the words in my head-they just seemed to fall into place: “Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand! These sad events served to inspire gospel great, Thomas A. Dorsey, to pen “Precious Lord” in 1932. The rent party played a major role in the development of jazz and blues music. Thomas Andrew Dorsey (1899-1993) wrote the words to “Precious Lord” in 1932, after the death of his wife in childbirth and the death, two days later, of his newborn son. How Thomas Dorsey decided to give up a thriving jazz career for “Precious Lord.” Thomas Dorsey was 33 years old and had a flourishing career in secular music. through the night lead me on to the light, Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home.”. Beginning in 1932, he served as the church’s choir director for forty years. 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