LG121 Interviews: S.I. Hayakawa and Mahalia Jackson; Brother John Sellers; Aldus Mitchell (LG121Goreau_Side1)

LG121Goreau_Side1

Goreau, Laurraine

Goreau, Laurraine
Hayakawa, S. I. (Samuel Ichiyé), 1906-1992
Jackson, Mahalia, 1911-1972
Mitchell, Aldus

2020-03-14
2020-03-14

Side 1: Recording of S.I. Hayakawa jazz seminar and interview with Mahalia Jackson. Side 2: Interview with Brother John Sellers on 1973-07-14. Interview with Aldus Mitchell, Mahalia Jackson's attorney on 1973-07-20 in Chicago, Illinois, conducted by telephone. Abstract for Jackson, Sellers, and Mitchell: [00:00–57:18] S.I. Hayakawa interviews Mahalia Jackson. Jackson performs "I'm Tired, Lord" then speaks about her first days in Chicago, including her work in hotels and laundries and her first choir performances at South Side Baptist churches – 02:32. Jackson performs "Just Over the Hill" – 07:32. Jackson speaks about her discovery by Decca Records and her growing reputation as a gospel singer – 10:35. Jackson performs her first major hit, "Move On Up a Little Higher" – 14:35. Hayakawa plays Bessie Smith's "Empty Bed Blues" and Jackson comments how the blues and spirituals are both responses to oppression – 20:40. Hayakawa plays Duke Ellington's "C Jam Blues" – 33:39 and Artie Shaw's "Sad Sack"– 37:44. Both comment on its connection to New Orleans Jazz and church rhythms. Hayakawa plays a piece from the Gerry Mulligan Quartet – 42:18. Jackson performs "Going on with the Spirit" – 47:10. Jackson performs "Bless This House" – 53:10. [04:50–14:49] On LG121Goreau_Side2 Goreau interviews Brother John Sellers (who is inaudible) via phone about Jackson's divorce, the 1966 lawsuit to begin divorce proceedings, issues with Jackson's estate, and Galloway's potential physical abuse of Jackson. [14:30–01:01:35] Continued on this side, interviewed in Chicago, Illinois, Aldus Mitchell, Mahalia Jackson's attorney, details Jackson's 1967 divorce and other difficult relationships, including her fallout with manager Lou Mindling – 20:03. Goreau asks Mitchell about Jackson's personal relationships, including promoters and family members who potentially exploited her financially – 29:57. The discussion includes Gene Shapiro and Jackson's second husband, and their decisions surrounding Jackson's temple and real estate transactions – 34:30. They go on to speak about Jackson's marriage to Galloway and its demise, including possible infidelity and his physical abuse – 39:37. The interview ends with details from the divorce trial and Jackson's relationship with Cylestine "Polly" Fletcher and Johnny [Jackson?] during that time.

57 min., 18 sec.

sound recording

Audio

Notation on tape: [Side 1] (Dub) A HAYAKAWA JAZZ SEMINAR -MAHALIA JACKSON INTERVIEW -> prob 1953 after 1st Europe concert (some time after) TRd [Side 2] B cont'd {0-25} #7 SELLERS John 7/14/73 from NYC faulty tape {25- Aldus Mitchell, MJ Atty., by phone, Chicago, 7/20/73- contd TR'd Sellers TR'd

interviews

Audio distortion: LG121Goreau_Side2 interviewee (John Sellers) inaudible for entirety of interview.

Hogan Archive of New Orleans Music and New Orleans Jazz, Tulane University Special Collections

Laurraine Goreau collection, HJA-059

https://archives.tulane.edu/

Jazz
Church music
Baptists
Gospel singers
Gospel music
Blues (Music)
Spirituals (Songs)

New Orleans (La.)
Chicago (Ill.)

Nineteen sixties

Tulane University Digital Library

eng

HJA059_LG121_1.mp3

Copyright to portions of this collection has been transferred to Tulane University Special Collections. Tulane University can grant permission to publish for materials to which it holds the copyright. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or owner’s heir for permission to publish where Tulane University Special Collections does not hold the copyright. For permission to publish collections material to which TUSC holds intellectual property rights, please contact Research Services at specialcollections@tulane.edu.

This recording was digitized in 2020 as part of a Recordings at Risk grant funded project administered by CLIR, "Tell the real story of me": Mahalia Jackson and Black Gospel Quartets in the South.

LG121 Interviews: S.I. Hayakawa and Mahalia Jackson; Brother John Sellers; Aldus Mitchell, Laurraine Goreau collection, HJA-059, Tulane University Special Collections, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA.

specialcollections@tulane.edu