The Mt. Prospect Baptist Church Choir in Villa Rica sings during a recent service. Local music legend Thomas Dorsey attended the church as a child and the choir still sings many of his tunes.
The songwriter and performer may have moved out before hitting the age of ten, but this town and this region still fondly claim “the father of black gospel music” all these years later.
Dorsey was a gospel music pioneer from the 1920s through the 1980s. His influence was such that the type of songs he popularized were known simply as “Dorseys” for a time.
Aside from a spectacular musical career, Dorsey enjoyed a long life. He was born in 1899 and lived until Jan. 23, 1993. Now, 20 years after his death, Villa Rica’s star on the musical map is part of a new Smithsonian exhibit that will land in nearby Bremen in February and March.
The New Harmonies Traveling Smithsonian Exhibit has made its way through the state of Georgia, beginning in 2012. The highlight of the exhibit is Georiga’s musical traditions. University of West Georgia History Professor Dr. Keith Hebert is coordinating the Bremen leg of the tour, and said Dorsey’s legacy is undeniable.
“Dorsey is a pivotal figure in the history of gospel music,” said Hebert. “His legacy carries on locally through the members of Mt. Prospect Baptist Church. Their choir is unique in the way their perform and their music. A lot of that’s a holdover from the days of Thomas Dorsey.”
Hebert said a lot of modern artists such as Kirk Franklin inherited their style of music from the man.
Dorsey was the son of a pastor and attended Mt. Prospect Baptist Church as a child, listening to the swaying gospel choirs that would influence his later music. He later built a career in Atlanta, Kansas City and especially Chicago. Dorsey used the moniker “Georgia Tom” in his early days and churned out a series of pop hits.
A tune recorded with Tampa Red titled “Tight Like That” sold a million copies and many of his pieces were later covered by Elvis. Photos from this era depict a slick-dressed man with a cigarette and style.
It was tragedy that would forever mark his life and change his music. Dorsey’s first wife died during childbirth in 1932, and a few days later the child also perished. Grieving this tragedy, he wrote one of his most famous pieces, “Precious Lord, Take my Hand.”
“The main story of Dorsey is that he had two different careers,” said Hebert. “When he was younger he was part of a traveling vaudeville show. He had a big conversion when his wife and son died, and that led him to this major conversion in his life. It’s pretty incredible.”
“Precious Lord, Take my Hand” was a favorite of Martin Luther King Jr. and was performed at his funeral. It and other Dorsey pieces have been covered by artists ranging from Aretha Franklin to Randy Travis, and his music can be found in church hymnals the world over.
Shirley Marchman is a Villa Rica city council member who sings in both the Mr. Prospect Baptist Church Choir and the Thomas Dorsey Birthplace Choir. She says his influence on the city cannot be forgotten.
“Mt. Prospect was his boyhood church,” said Marchman. “We’ve been holding a festival here in his honor for 18 years to celebrate him.”
Today, Dorsey’s name and image can still be found throughout Villa Rica. There is Thomas Dorsey Drive and a large mural downtown that includes him. The Thomas Dorsey festival is held here each summer near his birthday.
The Smithsonian exhibit in Bremen will be located at the Warren P. Sewell Library and will run from Feb. 9 to March 23. Monday and Wednesday the exhibit will open from 10 - 5: 30 p.m.. Tuesday and Thursday it will operate from noon - 7 p.m., Friday it opens from noon to 5: 30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 - 3 p.m. More information on the exhibit can be found at GeorgiaHumanities.org/newharmonies.
The Thomas Dorsey Birthplace Choir will perform at 6 p.m. on Feb. 16 at Mt. Prospect Baptist Church, 133 Thomas Dorsey Drive in Villa Rica.
Son of Loretta and Calvin McPherson. Although he is a resident of Fairfield Plantation in Villa Rica, Ga, The facility bus children with disabilities in the Carroll County from schools to his location for training. It is devastating that this organization fueled by a pedophile has not been detected by the community yet. The community of Ohio did not have the opportunity to defend themselves against this pedophile and previous owner of Morning Glories Daycare. Unfortunately, Lathan Access Technologies, has been applauded as a pillar of the community. The great reward is the Carroll Advocacy Center in the same neighborhood. I feel that this organization will set a clear message to the children, the community and other states when it rids the community of this deception.
Reginald Lathan Sr., my father and abuser, raped, drugged, beat and enslaved me and others without compassion. February 18th, 2013 he left another message threatening children that he has victimized. He has made false police reports with the intent to scorn the children he has molested recently. For the past 3 months our lives have been a remembrance of the lifetime of devastation caused by Reginald Lathan Sr. Children and others involved have received numerous threats of harassment from Reginald Lathan Sr and his employee Rolisha Lathan, of RoeLathan company. It is rewarding to see that the Oak Mountain Academy, along with other schools will receive training on signs of child abuse and Pedophilia behavior.
Reginald Lathan Sr is very familiar with the students and staff of Oak Mountain Academy. Unfortunately, it has gone undetected that he is their very threat. There is a child that understands the harm he has caused to Oak Mountain Academy. That child is a student there and also one of many victims left in silence. Unsurprisingly Reginald Lathan has a child in his care, my brother, left alone with a rapist of young boys and girls. My brother is left on the property with Calvin and Loretta McPherson, whom were told 25 years ago by a young girl being rapped by my father. My brother is left with his family and employee of Reginald Lathan Sr that has detailed the corruption of keeping secrets to safeguard the estate.
The average pedophile will molest 354 young boys and girls in their lifetime. Reginald Lathan Sr has based his career around hundreds of children yearly, for the past decade. The community has the right to protect their children. The community has the right to be armed with the facts. I compel anyone to verify the facts of my statements. The documentation is overwhelming. The community need to understand why haven't Reginald Lathan Sr been restrained from their children.
For the past 3 months there has been numerous reports made. Although the threat of our children's well being has not been a priority to all. The Child Advocacy Center is the first of its kind in this community and I hope Reginald Lathan Sr is the last pedophile to be applauded as a pillar of the community.
One million dollars is nothing to One million voices.
our children are priceless.
our children are not for sale.
tacewhocares.wordpress.com
"Thru A Child's Eyes. WHO CARES?" Sharnae Lathan
sl@tacewhocares.mygbiz.com
Son of Loretta and Calvin McPherson. Although he is a resident of Fairfield Plantation in Villa Rica, Ga, The facility bus children with disabilities in the Carroll County from schools to his location for training. It is devastating that this organization fueled by a pedophile has not been detected by the community yet. The community of Ohio did not have the opportunity to defend themselves against this pedophile and previous owner of Morning Glories Daycare. Unfortunately, Lathan Access Technologies, has been applauded as a pillar of the community. The great reward is the Carroll Advocacy Center in the same neighborhood. I feel that this organization will set a clear message to the children, the community and other states when it rids the community of this deception.
Reginald Lathan Sr., my father and abuser, raped, drugged, beat and enslaved me and others without compassion. February 18th, 2013 he left another message threatening children that he has victimized. He has made false police reports with the intent to scorn the children he has molested recently. For the past 3 months our lives have been a remembrance of the lifetime of devastation caused by Reginald Lathan Sr. Children and others involved have received numerous threats of harassment from Reginald Lathan Sr and his employee Rolisha Lathan, of RoeLathan company. It is rewarding to see that the Oak Mountain Academy, along with other schools will receive training on signs of child abuse and Pedophilia behavior.
Reginald Lathan Sr is very familiar with the students and staff of Oak Mountain Academy. Unfortunately, it has gone undetected that he is their very threat. There is a child that understands the harm he has caused to Oak Mountain Academy. That child is a student there and also one of many victims left in silence. Unsurprisingly Reginald Lathan has a child in his care, my brother, left alone with a rapist of young boys and girls. My brother is left on the property with Calvin and Loretta McPherson, whom were told 25 years ago by a young girl being rapped by my father. My brother is left with his family and employee of Reginald Lathan Sr that has detailed the corruption of keeping secrets to safeguard the estate.
The average pedophile will molest 354 young boys and girls in their lifetime. Reginald Lathan Sr has based his career around hundreds of children yearly, for the past decade. The community has the right to protect their children. The community has the right to be armed with the facts. I compel anyone to verify the facts of my statements. The documentation is overwhelming. The community need to understand why haven't Reginald Lathan Sr been restrained from their children.
For the past 3 months there has been numerous reports made. Although the threat of our children's well being has not been a priority to all. The Child Advocacy Center is the first of its kind in this community and I hope Reginald Lathan Sr is the last pedophile to be applauded as a pillar of the community.
One million dollars is nothing to One million voices.
our children are priceless.
our children are not for sale.
tacewhocares.wordpress.com
"Thru A Child's Eyes. WHO CARES?" Sharnae Lathan
sl@tacewhocares.mygbiz.com