Mahalia Jackson

One thing about playing the real jazz is that you can't count it.

God can make you anything you want to be, but you have to put everything in his hands.

Gospel music rhythms are not African in origin, although I know that's what the jazz experts say.

How can you sing of amazing grace and all God's wonders without using your hands?

I close my eyes when I sing so I can feel the song better.

I don't worry too much about the script, I just ad lib, like Pearl Bailey.

I hope to bring people to God with my songs.

I'll come to any benefit if I see SCLC get all the money.

My hands, my feet, I throw my whole body to say all that is within me.

Blues are the songs of despair, but gospel songs are the songs of hope.

The Lord doesn't like us to be dead. Be alive. Sometimes I dance to the glory of the Lord, because He said so.

The old Devil gets mad when you're trying to do good. Pray that God will move the stumbling blocks.

The trouble with records is that they're too short.

This is the place to see the stars - Hollywood Bowl.

When you are through with the blues, you've got nothing to rest on.

Anybody that sings the blues is in a deep pit, yelling for help.

Time is important to me because I want to sing long enough to leave a message. I'm used to singing in churches where nobody would dare stop me until the Lord arrives!

Put your mind on the gospel. And remember - there's one God for all.

Baby, black promoters oppressed me before white promoters ever got hold of me. Don't talk skin to me.

Do you know most of the Jewish songs have the same trend of sadness as Negro spirituals?

When you sing gospel you have a feeling there is a cure for what's wrong.

They thought I was a success as soon as I started paying the bills.

The mind and the voice by themselves are not sufficient.

Anybody singing the blues is in a deep pit yelling for help.

If you want me to sing this Christmas song with the feeling and the meaning, you better see if you can locate that check.