Doris Akers
Encyclopedia
Doris Mae Akers was an American Gospel music
composer, arranger and singer. Known for her work with the Sky Pilot Choir, she was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame
in 2001.
to parents Floyd and Pearl Akers. She had nine siblings; Edward, Floyd, Evelyn, Marian, Donald, Nellie, Bernice, Harley, and Charles. The family moved to Kirksville, Missouri
when she was five years old. She learned to play the piano by ear at age six wrote her first song, "Keep The Fire Burning In Me" when she was ten years old. During the 1930s she formed a group with her siblings, Edward, Marian and Donald, who went by the name of "Dot and The Swingsters".
Two years later she left The Sallie Martin Singers and began her own group. In 1947, she published her first song with Martin & Morris, entitled "I Want A Double Portion Of God's Love". The following year, she teamed up with Dorothy Simmons and Hattie Hawkins and formed the Simmons-Akers Trio. They released many recordings on several labels: Score, Superb, Super, Songs of the Cross, Imperial Records
, RCA Victor and label Specialty Records
.
Doris formed the "Akers Music House" in 1948 to market and preserve some of her original religious compositions which grew out of her strong Christian faith.
In the mid-fifties, Akers began an association with Manna Music, founded by Tim Spencer of the Sons of the Pioneers.
In early 1957, Akers recorded her first solo album called, "Sing Praises Unto The Lord" (RCA Victor 1481). The album featured many of her early compositions such as, "I Found Something", "Lead On (Lord Jesus)", and "Jesus Is The Name". She was backed by her group the Simmons Akers Gospel Singers.
According to ASCAP documentation, in 1958, along with her friend Mahalia Jackson, Doris co-wrote the song, "Lord, Don't Move the Mountain", which sold over a million records. This composition also became a hit for another gospel superstar, Inez Andrews, over a decade later.
While in Los Angeles, she became director of the Sky Pilot Choir, an integrated choir, which was also featured on recordings, television shows, and radio broadcasts across the country. Her fresh, modern arrangements of traditional Negro spirituals drew large crowds from far and near and increased attendance at the church dramatically. They released three albums, "The Sky Pilot Choir", "The Sky Pilot Choir Vol. 2" (with the Sutton Sisters), and "Doris Akers Sings with The Sky Pilot Choir". Their organist on many occasions was a young Billy Preston. She ended her collaboration with the Sky Pilot Choir in 1965, but they reunited again in 1974 to record their fourth effort, "Doris Akers and the Original Members of the Sky Pilot Choir".
Akers continued recording for RCA Victor into the mid-sixties, cutting such albums as "Forever Faithful" (1963), a collaboration with The Statesmen Quartet entitled, "Sing for You" in 1964, and "Highway to Heaven".
After having lived in Los Angeles since the mid-forties, she moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1970. She continued recording, composing and traveling. An album, "The Artistry of Doris Akers", was released in 1979.
In the United States she began recording for the Gaither label and appeared at some of their concerts and in TV productions, some fragments of which are currently available on YouTube.com.
She was affectionately known as "Miss Gospel Music" because she was admired and respected by everyone in the music industry over the years, she had mastered every aspect of gospel music including vocals, keyboards, choir directing, arranging, composing and publishing, she had worked with many of the pioneers of the Golden Age of Gospel Music, she had authored many standard gospel compositions, and she moved freely and successfully in all spheres of gospel music. She had mastered her art completely as a solo artist, composer and producer. Many of her compositions such as "Lead Me and Guide Me", "I Cannot Fail The Lord", "You Can't Beat God Giving", and "Sweet, Sweet Spirit", sold millions for other gospel artists and evangelists. She was interviewed by Lindsay Terry for the book: "Stories Behind 50 Southern Gospel Favorites" and she explained how the hit song "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" was revealed to her during a prayer session with one of her choirs before a church service.
Akers lived out the final years of her life in Minneapolis, MN serving as Minister of Music at Grace Temple Deliverance Center. She discovered she had spinal cancer when she visited the doctor after breaking her ankle in August, 1994. Doris Akers died July 26, 1995. She was survived by two of her sisters, Nellie & Bernice, and her brother Donald Akers.
as "the foremost black gospel songwriter in the United States." She was posthumously inducted to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Her songs including "Sweet, Sweet Spirit", "Lead Me, Guide Me", "You Can't Beat God Giving", "Grow Closer","I Cannot Fail The Lord", "He Delivered Me", "God Is So Good" and "My Expectation" appear in the hymnals of many denominations.
Her compositions have been recorded and sold millions by many Gospel and secular artists, including Mahalia Jackson
, The Statesmen, The Caravans
, Willie Mae Ford Smith
, Clara Ward
, the Sallie Martin Singers, James Cleveland
, Bill Gaither, Ernie Haase
, George Beverly Shea
, Elvis Presley
, and Conway Twitty
.
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
composer, arranger and singer. Known for her work with the Sky Pilot Choir, she was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame
Gospel Music Hall of Fame
The Gospel Music Hall of Fame, created in 1971 by the Gospel Music Association, is a Hall of Fame dedicated exclusively to recognizing meaningful contributions by individuals and groups in all forms of gospel music.-Inductees:...
in 2001.
Early life
Doris Akers was born in Brookfield, MissouriBrookfield, Missouri
Brookfield is a city in Linn County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,542 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Brookfield is located at ....
to parents Floyd and Pearl Akers. She had nine siblings; Edward, Floyd, Evelyn, Marian, Donald, Nellie, Bernice, Harley, and Charles. The family moved to Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville is the county seat of Adair County, Missouri, United States. It is located in Benton Township. The population was 17,505 at the 2010 census. Kirksville also anchors a micropolitan area that comprises Adair and Schuyler counties. The city is perhaps best known as the location of Truman...
when she was five years old. She learned to play the piano by ear at age six wrote her first song, "Keep The Fire Burning In Me" when she was ten years old. During the 1930s she formed a group with her siblings, Edward, Marian and Donald, who went by the name of "Dot and The Swingsters".
Early career
In 1945, at the age of 22, Akers moved to Los Angeles. She was recruited by Sallie Martin in 1946 as a pianist and vocalist for The Sallie Martin Singers. (They would later have a recording contract with Capitol Records.) Sallie Martin was famous for touring nationally with Professor Thomas Dorsey to sell gospel sheet music and this collaboration early in her career gave Doris insight into the business end of the music industry.Two years later she left The Sallie Martin Singers and began her own group. In 1947, she published her first song with Martin & Morris, entitled "I Want A Double Portion Of God's Love". The following year, she teamed up with Dorothy Simmons and Hattie Hawkins and formed the Simmons-Akers Trio. They released many recordings on several labels: Score, Superb, Super, Songs of the Cross, Imperial Records
Imperial Records
Imperial Records is a United States based label started in 1947 by Lew Chudd and reactivated in 2006 by label owner EMI.- The independent and Liberty Records years :...
, RCA Victor and label Specialty Records
Specialty Records
Specialty Records was an American record label based in Los Angeles. It was originally launched as Juke Box Records in 1946, but later renamed by its owner Art Rupe when he parted company with a couple of his original partners...
.
Doris formed the "Akers Music House" in 1948 to market and preserve some of her original religious compositions which grew out of her strong Christian faith.
In the mid-fifties, Akers began an association with Manna Music, founded by Tim Spencer of the Sons of the Pioneers.
In early 1957, Akers recorded her first solo album called, "Sing Praises Unto The Lord" (RCA Victor 1481). The album featured many of her early compositions such as, "I Found Something", "Lead On (Lord Jesus)", and "Jesus Is The Name". She was backed by her group the Simmons Akers Gospel Singers.
According to ASCAP documentation, in 1958, along with her friend Mahalia Jackson, Doris co-wrote the song, "Lord, Don't Move the Mountain", which sold over a million records. This composition also became a hit for another gospel superstar, Inez Andrews, over a decade later.
While in Los Angeles, she became director of the Sky Pilot Choir, an integrated choir, which was also featured on recordings, television shows, and radio broadcasts across the country. Her fresh, modern arrangements of traditional Negro spirituals drew large crowds from far and near and increased attendance at the church dramatically. They released three albums, "The Sky Pilot Choir", "The Sky Pilot Choir Vol. 2" (with the Sutton Sisters), and "Doris Akers Sings with The Sky Pilot Choir". Their organist on many occasions was a young Billy Preston. She ended her collaboration with the Sky Pilot Choir in 1965, but they reunited again in 1974 to record their fourth effort, "Doris Akers and the Original Members of the Sky Pilot Choir".
Akers continued recording for RCA Victor into the mid-sixties, cutting such albums as "Forever Faithful" (1963), a collaboration with The Statesmen Quartet entitled, "Sing for You" in 1964, and "Highway to Heaven".
After having lived in Los Angeles since the mid-forties, she moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1970. She continued recording, composing and traveling. An album, "The Artistry of Doris Akers", was released in 1979.
Later Career & Demise
In the 1980's Akers issued a new gospel album every year on a regional midwest label. Each album cover featured a new color photograph of the artist to let you know it was a current production. She also recorded a few albums in Canada which were not distributed in the United States, such as Crusade LP 2702 with Temple's Harvest Time Choir.In the United States she began recording for the Gaither label and appeared at some of their concerts and in TV productions, some fragments of which are currently available on YouTube.com.
She was affectionately known as "Miss Gospel Music" because she was admired and respected by everyone in the music industry over the years, she had mastered every aspect of gospel music including vocals, keyboards, choir directing, arranging, composing and publishing, she had worked with many of the pioneers of the Golden Age of Gospel Music, she had authored many standard gospel compositions, and she moved freely and successfully in all spheres of gospel music. She had mastered her art completely as a solo artist, composer and producer. Many of her compositions such as "Lead Me and Guide Me", "I Cannot Fail The Lord", "You Can't Beat God Giving", and "Sweet, Sweet Spirit", sold millions for other gospel artists and evangelists. She was interviewed by Lindsay Terry for the book: "Stories Behind 50 Southern Gospel Favorites" and she explained how the hit song "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" was revealed to her during a prayer session with one of her choirs before a church service.
Akers lived out the final years of her life in Minneapolis, MN serving as Minister of Music at Grace Temple Deliverance Center. She discovered she had spinal cancer when she visited the doctor after breaking her ankle in August, 1994. Doris Akers died July 26, 1995. She was survived by two of her sisters, Nellie & Bernice, and her brother Donald Akers.
Legacy and Honors
Akers received many awards including back-to-back "Gospel Music Composer of the Year" in both 1960 and 1961. "Doris Akers Day" was held in Kirksville, Missouri in July, 1976. Akers was the headline act of the citys American Bicentennial celebration, with approximately 20,000 people attending an evening concert. In 1992 Doris Akers was honored by the Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
as "the foremost black gospel songwriter in the United States." She was posthumously inducted to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Her songs including "Sweet, Sweet Spirit", "Lead Me, Guide Me", "You Can't Beat God Giving", "Grow Closer","I Cannot Fail The Lord", "He Delivered Me", "God Is So Good" and "My Expectation" appear in the hymnals of many denominations.
Her compositions have been recorded and sold millions by many Gospel and secular artists, including 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 Statesmen, The Caravans
The Caravans
The Caravans is a Jubilee Gospel group that was started by Albertina Walker . The group reached its peak popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, launching the careers of a number of artists, including: Delores Washington, Albertina Walker, Bessie Griffin, Cassietta George, Dorothy Norwood, Inez...
, Willie Mae Ford Smith
Willie Mae Ford Smith
Willie Mae Ford , also known as Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith, was an American gospel singer.-Early years:Born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, she moved to Memphis, Tennessee as a child...
, Clara Ward
Clara Ward
Clara Ward was an American gospel artist who achieved great success, both artistic and commercial, in the 1940s and 1950s as leader of The Famous Ward Singers....
, the Sallie Martin Singers, James Cleveland
James Cleveland
The Reverend Dr. James Cleveland was a gospel singer, arranger, composer and, most significantly, the driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound, bringing the stylistic daring of hard gospel and jazz and pop music influences to arrangements for mass choirs...
, Bill Gaither, Ernie Haase
Ernie Haase
Ernie Haase started singing as a young boy at Washington Ave. Baptist Church. He is a Christian tenor vocalist known for being the founder of Ernie Haase and Signature Sound...
, George Beverly Shea
George Beverly Shea
George Beverly "Bev" Shea is a Grammy Award-winning Canadian-born American gospel singer and hymn composer. Shea has often been described as "America's beloved Gospel singer" and is considered "the first international singing 'star' of the gospel world," as a consequence of his solos at Billy...
, 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"....
, and Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty , born Harold Lloyd Jenkins, was an American country music artist. He also had success in early rock and roll, R&B, and pop music. He held the record for the most number one singles of any act with 55 No. 1 Billboard country hits until George Strait broke the record in 2006...
.