The Resume

(July 1, 1899-January 23, 1993)
Born in Villa Rica, Georgia
Musical director of the Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago (1932-83)
Called 'the father of black gospel music'
Wrote the standards 'Take My Hand, Precious Lord' and 'Peace in the Valley'
Featured in the documentary 'Say Amen, Somebody' (1983)

Why he might be annoying:

He had two nervous breakdowns during the 1920s.
He started as blues pianist Georgia Tom, performing at speakeasies and bordellos, and writing raunchy songs such as 'Tight Like That.'
His injection of blues elements into church music to create gospel was resisted in more conservative quarters, leading him to note, 'I've been thrown out of some of the best churches in America.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He founded the first independent publisher of gospel music, the Dorsey House of Music, which was so successful that by the late 30s, the word 'dorsey' was applied to any gospel sheet music.
He discovered Mahalia Jackson.
He wrote 'Take My Hand, Precious Lord' after his wife died in childbirth followed two days later by his newborn son (1932).
'Precious Lord' was a favorite hymn of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Lyndon B. Johnson, who both requested that it be sung at their funerals.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Blues Musicians
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 33]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [July] (Ranked: 7011899)
• Christian Vocalists
• I Did Not Graduate High School [C-E]
• I Died in 1993 (Ranked: 93)
• I Had a Nervous Breakdown
• I Have Dementia/Alzheimer's
• I Outlived My Child
• I'm Buried at Oak Woods Cemetery [Chicago]
• Johnny Cash Covered My Song
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
• People with Tom, Dick or Harry in their Names
• Profiles 30501-30750 (Ranked: 30516)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 88.89% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 19 Votes: 36.84% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying