Mahalia Jackson born October 26, 1911, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Was an American gospel singer, With a career spanning 40 years, Jackson was integral to the development and spread of gospel blues throughout the U.S. Nationwide recognition came for Jackson in 1947 with the release of “Move On Up a Little Higher”, selling two million copies and hitting the number-two spot on Billboard charts, both firsts for gospel music. She met considerable success in a recording career, selling an estimated