On this Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, we turn to artists who marched alongside him and whose music powered the Civil Rights Movement: Mahalia Jackson and Pete Seeger.
The contributions of these individuals both on- and off-stage served as a guiding light for the movement. We encourage you to venture into the music of freedom fighters published by The Orchard distributed partner, Smithsonian Folkways, and learn more about the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson is one of the most revered gospel singers of the twentieth century. She was a close friend to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., often performing ahead of his sermons and for Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) fundraisers. She famously sparked the most famous lines of King’s speech at the 1963 March on Washington, calling out from the dias: “Tell them about the dream, Martin!” Have a listen to some of her songs below.
- “I Sing Because My Soul Is Happy”
- “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”
- “Recollections of Influences on Her Music”
- Kronos Quartet and Mahalia Jackson – “Glorious Mahalia: IV. Sometime I feel like a motherless child”
Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger was an American folk singer, songwriter, and social activist. In the 1960s he dedicated himself to supporting the interlocking causes of civil rights, workers’ rights, environmental activism, and more. Some of his best-known songs are calls for social justice: the iconic labor songs “Solidarity Forever” and “Which Side Are You On?,” and “If I Had a Hammer,” the protest song he co-wrote with Lee Hays.
Seeger’s version of “We Shall Overcome” was Dr. King’s first exposure to the song, which became an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement; King even quoted the song in his final speech in March of 1968. Three years earlier, Seeger performed at Dr. King’s invitation at the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March. Seeger’s legacy as a musician of the people lives on to this day. Have a listen to some of his albums below.
- American Favorite Ballads, Vol. 2 (1958)
- Headlines and Footnotes: A Collection of Topical Songs (1999)
- If I Had a Hammer: Songs of Hope and Struggle (1998)
Additional Resources
SHOW UP: Visit YourCause Connect or explore the organizations listed below to discover how you can support and mobilize with our communities.
- King Center – Atlanta GA
- MLK Day Parade – Los Angeles, CA
- MLK Day of Service – Los Angeles, CA
- MLK Day Clothing Drive – Los Angeles, CA
- MLK Day of Service – USA
- Celebrate MLK Day – Miami, FL
- MLK Day 40th Annual Tribute – Brooklyn, NY
- Volunteer Match
- Global Citizen
GET SOCIAL: Social media accounts to follow and amplify:
- @TheKingCenter on Twitter
- The King Center on IG
- @BerniceKing on Twitter
- Bernice King on IG
