Mahalia Jackson
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"Mahalia Jackson" was an American gospel music/gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel". She became one of the most influential gospel singers in the world and was heralded internationally as a singer and civil rights activist. She was described by entertainer Harry Belafonte as "the single most powerful black woman in the United States". She recorded about 30 albums (mostly for Columbia Records) during her career, and her Gramophone record/45 rpm records included a dozen "golds"—million-sellers.

"I sing God's music because it makes me feel free", Jackson once said about her choice of gospel, adding, "It gives me hope. With the blues, when you finish, you still have the blues."

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

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!

It's easy to be independent when you've got money. But to be independent when you haven't got a thing -- that's the Lord's test.