She Had a Dream - Mahalia Jackson 1911-1972 © by Thilo Plaesser

This book is not a conventional biography but a journey to the heart of a legend—visionary, musically rich, and deeply inspiring. It offers a compelling glimpse into the human side of the icon.

Thilo Plaesser provides a competent and engaging analysis of the following aspects:

Mahalia as a Performer, Improviser, devout Christian, Entrepreneur, and Voice of the Civil Rights Movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King. This work offers profound insights into Mahalia’s musical roots and the evolution of gospel music and provides a clear understanding of what improvisation truly means. It highlights Mahalia’s unique vocal technique as well as the close musical bond she shared with her longtime pianist, Mildred Falls.

At the heart of the book is the principle of resilience.

In a time of global upheaval, Mahalia’s journey becomes a radical guide to self-assertion. Her life serves as a modern guide for the soul and demonstrates how a powerful course of action grows out of an inner attitude.

Exclusive forewords by her grandniece Minister Valerie Nero, her stepdaughter Sigma Galloway, and her last organist, Dr. Charles Clency, attest to the authenticity of this book. As companions on this journey, they recommend this work as an essential bridge to the present day, when Mahalia’s legacy is more important than ever.

The book will be published in late May.

245 pages, 20 photos

Cover photo © AJ Pics / Alamy