
New Mahalia Jackson biopic to be filmed in Chicago

The biopic will follow famed gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and it will be shot in Chicago,
the city considered the birthplace of gospel.
Credit: Embassy of United States in New Delhi/Creative Commons
NNPA) – Bill Duke brings his years of talent and experience to direct and executive produce “The Mahalia Jackson Story,” a music biopic chronicling the life of the woman who rose from her poverty and obscurity to become the world’s greatest gospel singer and a music icon and legend.
“Getting her story to the screen has been a passion project of mine for many years,” said Duke, who has more than 60 features, TV shows and TV movies to his credit.
The “Mahalia Jackson Story” was written by Ruth L Ratny, based on “Just Mahalia Baby,” Jackson’s seminal biography and augmented by personal stories revealed for the first time by her former accompanists, friends, relatives and pastors.
The full-length feature film will feature 20 of Jackson’s classic songs, including “Move on Up a Little Higher,” her first million album seller and Thomas Dorsey’s “Precious Lord,” which Mahalia, as Dorsey’s song-plugger introduced in Detroit in 1940. Precious Lord would become a favorite of Mahalia’s friend, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
When she sings “How I Got Over,” it helps us all to believe that we can get over, too, said Duke.
“The Mahalia Jackson Story” will be filmed in Chicago and is endorsed by Chicago’s civic and religious community. Jackson was a very active citizen of Chicago who, along with Thomas Dorsey, Roberta Martin and Sallie Martin, helped make the city the Gospel music capital of the world, said Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a letter of support for the film.
Chicago is considered the birthplace of gospel and its annual Gospel Music Festival is the largest in the world.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
More districtchronicles News Articles
- Hollywood next: Jeff Friday’s American Black Film Festival fuels the future
- Who owns that trademark?
- Oprah Winfrey to star in movie about Henrietta Lacks
- ‘Saints & Sinners’ season finale becomes Bounce TV's most-watched program eve...
Recent districtchronicles News Articles
Discuss This Article
MOST POPULAR DISTRICTCHRONICLES

Religious groups to Obama: Dismantle immigration registry’s framework By Lauren Markoe, Religion News Service

Fidel Castro Is Dead By Frederick H. Lowe

Sharpton Announces D.C. March During MLK Weekend 2017 By Hazel Trice Edney
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST DISTRICTCHRONICLES NEWS
- DHCD Acts to Preserve 63 Affordable Housing Units in Wards 4 and 8
- Mayor Bowser releases housing report
- District Holds First-Ever State Diploma Commencement for Residents Who...
- Here are Six Black Republicans that Trump Should Be Talking to about Cabinet...
- County Launches Dementia Friendly Initiative
- County Seeks Volunteers to Work With Victims of Sexual Assault
- Empowering Kids to Combat the 'Trump Effect'
RECENT DISTRICTCHRONICLES CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- How Do We Know LASIK Is Safe?
- Building A Medicaid Bipartisan Bridge
- Footballer Jerry Rice Makes Big Play For Kidney Health
- Tips For Easy Snow Removal
- Thirty Years Of Perfect Harmony To Help Kids
- An IRS Incentive To Save For Retirement
- How To Wow The One Who Wows You
- Top Roofing Trends
- Living Better With Chronic Respiratory Diseases
- Prevent CO Poisoning
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- Online Conference Connects Global Startups and Investors
- Corporate Takeover Tale Offers Blueprint for Survival
- Women Say They're Ready to Put Their Money to Work for Them
- This Year, Rethink The Way You Plan a Vacation
- Fall in Love with UPtv's New Uplifting Series: Design Twins
- Pop the Question with the Perfect Song
- Post-Holiday Wake-up Call: Signs Senior Loved Ones May...
- New Year, New Goals: Tools to Get You Where You Want to Go
- How Self-Publishing Made This Author A Best-Seller
- Big Swings in The Market Haven't Dampened People's Optimism
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Enter the 2019 SVG/NACDA College Sports Media Awards Today!
- Cengage Offers College Students Free Access to Career Resources with Cengage Unlimited Subscription
- ACTA Launches HowCollegesSpendMoney.com
- Nikon Announces The Second Year Of The Nikon Storytellers Scholarship, Reaffirming Its Commitment To Education For The Next Generation of Creators
- New Survey: Demand for Uniquely Human Skills Increases Even as Technology and Automation Replace Some Jobs