Doris Akers
December 4, 2020 8:22 PM Subscribe
Despite being honored by the Smithsonian Institution as "the foremost black gospel songwriter in the United States", and being inducted into the Nashville Gospel Music Hall of Fame, "Nobody talks much about Doris Akers, or even gives her credit for her considerable part in shaping Post-War gospel music composition." (PDF)
Her first big hit was Lord Don't Move the Mountains, co-written with Mahalia Jackson. As leader of the Sky Pilot Choir, she recorded traditional spirituals (Go Down Moses), the work of other composers (The Storm is Passing Over), and her own compositions (You Can't Beat God Giving).
Among the many albums she recorded, Doris Akers and the Statesmen Quartet Sing For You is a standout.
Catholics may remember her more for Lead Me, Guide Me, but her best-known composition is "Sweet, Sweet Spirit". It has been recorded many times:
Elvis enjoying The Stamps singing it
The Imperials
The Gaithers
Many many many churches and community choirs
Country star Conway Twitty
The multiply-disgraced Jimmy Swaggart
...and her own recordings.
Her first big hit was Lord Don't Move the Mountains, co-written with Mahalia Jackson. As leader of the Sky Pilot Choir, she recorded traditional spirituals (Go Down Moses), the work of other composers (The Storm is Passing Over), and her own compositions (You Can't Beat God Giving).
Among the many albums she recorded, Doris Akers and the Statesmen Quartet Sing For You is a standout.
Catholics may remember her more for Lead Me, Guide Me, but her best-known composition is "Sweet, Sweet Spirit". It has been recorded many times:
Elvis enjoying The Stamps singing it
The Imperials
The Gaithers
Many many many churches and community choirs
Country star Conway Twitty
The multiply-disgraced Jimmy Swaggart
...and her own recordings.
Her lack of recognition in the world is probably due to two factors. First of all, "Doe" never sung her own praises, preferring to make light of her work. Second, "Doe" was never fully accepted by the greater body of the black church. The fact that she looked Caucasian (she was a stunning, curly-headed blonde as a child) and later would form a choral unit of mixed race – The Sky Pilot Choir – did not seem to help matters."Now I'm dark chocolate, she's white mocha, but she's coffee all the same."
Thank you for this article - I have come across her work a few times over the past years while trying to find tunes that would resonate with the congregation I play(ed) for. She had a great ear!
posted by NorthernAutumn at 2:25 PM on December 6, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by NorthernAutumn at 2:25 PM on December 6, 2020 [1 favorite]
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