Thomas A. Dorsey

Dorsey (1899-1993) was an African American composer and musician. He was known as "the father of gospel music". He was music director of Pilgrim Baptist Chruch in Chicago from 1932 into the late 1970's. The 1982 documentary "Say Amen, Somebody" on the history of modern gospel music focueses heavily on Dorsey's role. The title is taken from a quote Dorsey gives in the film. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2018 uner the blues stage name "George Tom Dorsey".