Move On Up A Little Higher (song)
Encyclopedia
"Move On Up A Little Higher" is a gospel
song written by W. Herbert Brewster
, first recorded on September 12, 1947, by gospel singer Mahalia Jackson
, that sold eight million copies. The song was honored with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in (1998). In 2005, the Library of Congress
honored the song by adding it to the National Recording Registry. It was also included in the list of Songs of the Century
, by the Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment for the Arts, and is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
as one of the 500 songs that shaped rock.
(1897-1987) composed "Moved On Up A Little Higher," through the imagery of a "Christian climbing the ladder to heaven," the song encourages black upward mobility, hence reflecting the postwar Afro-modernist sentiments:"
"Move on Up" was originally written for one of Brewster's religious pageants or passion plays. Brewster's maintained that the entire piece--lyrics, melody, and harmony--came to him in one flow, and shortly thereafter he taught the song to his principle vocal soloist, Queen C. Anderson. But it was the Queen of Gospel, Mahalia Jackson
, who, according to Brewster, "knew what to do with it. She could throw the verse out there." Producer Art Freeman insisted Jackson record "Move on Up a Little Higher"; released in early 1948, the single became the best-selling gospel record of all time, selling in such great quantities that stores could not even meet the demand. Brewster was pastor of East Trigg Avenue Baptist Church, one of the churches where young Elvis Presley
studied the ecstatic moves of his gospel heroes.
, Apollo
: Mahalia Jackson (vocal), Mildred Falls (piano), and Herbert James Francis (organ).
, November 23, 1954, Columbia
, (Rev. William Herbert Brewster
/Arranger Mahalia Jackson
): The Falls-Jones Ensemble, with Mildred Falls (piano), Ralph Jones (organ), Jack Lasberg (guitar), Frank Carroll (bass), Bunny Shawker (drums), and Mahalia Jackson
(vocal). From The World's Greatest Gospel Singer
album, Columbia CL 644; Originally Released March 14, 1955.
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
song written by W. Herbert Brewster
W. Herbert Brewster
William Herbert Brewster was an influential African American Baptist minister, composer, dramatist, singer, poet and community leader....
, first recorded on September 12, 1947, by gospel singer Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel"...
, that sold eight million copies. The song was honored with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in (1998). In 2005, the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
honored the song by adding it to the National Recording Registry. It was also included in the list of Songs of the Century
Songs of the Century
The "Songs of the Century" list is part of an education project by the Recording Industry Association of America , the National Endowment for the Arts, and Scholastic Inc. that aims to "promote a better understanding of America’s musical and cultural heritage" in American schools...
, by the Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment for the Arts, and is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
as one of the 500 songs that shaped rock.
Background
Composer Rev. William Herbert BrewsterW. Herbert Brewster
William Herbert Brewster was an influential African American Baptist minister, composer, dramatist, singer, poet and community leader....
(1897-1987) composed "Moved On Up A Little Higher," through the imagery of a "Christian climbing the ladder to heaven," the song encourages black upward mobility, hence reflecting the postwar Afro-modernist sentiments:"
- "The fight for rights here in Memphis was pretty rough on the Black church . . . and I We'll have to move in the field of education. Move into the professions and move into politics. Move in ahas to have to survive. That was a protest idea and inspiration. I was trying to inspire Black people to move up higher. Don't be mediocre he freedom fights started, before the Martin Luther King days, I had to lead a lot of protest meetings. In order to gengerous tcould sing it."
"Move on Up" was originally written for one of Brewster's religious pageants or passion plays. Brewster's maintained that the entire piece--lyrics, melody, and harmony--came to him in one flow, and shortly thereafter he taught the song to his principle vocal soloist, Queen C. Anderson. But it was the Queen of Gospel, Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel"...
, who, according to Brewster, "knew what to do with it. She could throw the verse out there." Producer Art Freeman insisted Jackson record "Move on Up a Little Higher"; released in early 1948, the single became the best-selling gospel record of all time, selling in such great quantities that stores could not even meet the demand. Brewster was pastor of East Trigg Avenue Baptist Church, one of the churches where young Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
studied the ecstatic moves of his gospel heroes.
First Session
"Move On Up A Little Higher," September 12, 1947, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Apollo
Apollo Records (1944)
The third and best known Apollo Records to exist was an independent record label in business from 1944 until 1962 in the United States. It was formed in New York City in 1944 by Bess Berman and her husband Isaac "Ike" Berman together with Hy Siegel and Sam Schneider...
: Mahalia Jackson (vocal), Mildred Falls (piano), and Herbert James Francis (organ).
Re-record Session
"I Will Move On Up A Little Higher," New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, November 23, 1954, Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, (Rev. William Herbert Brewster
W. Herbert Brewster
William Herbert Brewster was an influential African American Baptist minister, composer, dramatist, singer, poet and community leader....
/Arranger Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel"...
): The Falls-Jones Ensemble, with Mildred Falls (piano), Ralph Jones (organ), Jack Lasberg (guitar), Frank Carroll (bass), Bunny Shawker (drums), and Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel"...
(vocal). From The World's Greatest Gospel Singer
The World's Greatest Gospel Singer (album)
The World's Greatest Gospel Singer was Mahalia Jackson's debut album on the Columbia label, recorded in 1954.-Overview:Original record sleeve, written by George Avakian: "The recordings in this collection were made in the course of two consecutive evenings at Columbia's 30th Street Studio in New York...
album, Columbia CL 644; Originally Released March 14, 1955.
Notable cover versions
- Marian AndersonMarian AndersonMarian Anderson was an African-American contralto and one of the most celebrated singers of the twentieth century...
(1989) - The Dixie HummingbirdsThe Dixie HummingbirdsThe Dixie Hummingbirds are an influential American gospel music group, spanning more than 80 years from the jubilee quartet style of the 1920s, through the "hard gospel" quartet style of Gospel's golden age in the 1940s and 1950s, to the eclectic pop-tinged songs of today.-History:Formed in 1928 in...
(1999) - Albertina WalkerAlbertina Walker-Early years:Walker was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Ruben and Camille Coleman Walker. Her mother was born in Houston County, Georgia, and her father in Bibb County, Georgia. They moved to Chicago between 1917-1920 where they lived out their lives. Albertina had four siblings born in Bibb County...
(1993) - Others