For years I have heard the “history” of the Chicago Gospel Music Festival told over the airwaves, in print, and by word of mouth. It amazed me how people could talk about this great festival and not mention the first five years or that it began under the administration of Mayor Harold Washington, the first Black Mayor of Chicago.  Nor do they mention that it sprang from the grassroots of a community, a Chicago south side neighborhood as a tribute to the Father of Gospel Music, Professor Thomas A. Dorsey! To overlook such vital aspects of that historical background is entirely unacceptable. That’s why I decided to write this book.

Yes, I gave Mayor Washington the suggestion to present a gospel festival, but it was never my intention to produce it.  I was a jazz singer on my way back to New York to resume my career. When I told him that he said, “it’s your idea, and you have to stay here and do it.” Rationalizing that 3 months wouldn’t make a big difference in my career, my response was “Ok, but after it’s over, I’m leaving,” That was 35 years ago, and I’m still here, and this year the festival celebrates 35 years!

The Dorsey Gospel Festival began in 1985 at the South Shore Country Club as part of Mayor Washington’s new Neighborhood Festival Program The response was overwhelming. The first year the attendance was 30,000, the second, 40,000. A move was mandatory. In the 3rd year (1986) we moved to Grant Park as The Chicago Gospel Festival, recognized nationally as “the world’s largest gospel festival.”  In the 5th year, our attendance was over 100,000 – the Chicago Police Department CLOSED GRANT PARK!

The festival’s success can be attributed to the hard work of a host volunteers who gave their talents, energy, and time, collectively. They were the Gospel Festival Committee, some were mover-and shakers, like Dr. Carol Adams, Pastor Ray Berryhill, Loisteen Woods-Walker and those who are no longer with us; the Rev. Clay Evans, Jim Fletcher, President of Shore Bank, the “Queen” of Gospel Music, Albertina Walker, Juanita Passmore, Henry English, Roscoe King and many others I am humbled that God gave me this mission, which I jokingly referred to as an “unrequested ministry that interrupted my career.” But seriously, I have no regrets and most importantly I am very proud to say I founded the first city sponsored gospel festival that was justifiably acclaimed as the largest free outdoor gospel festival in the world, held in the home of Gospel Music to honor the father of gospel music.

We forged new territory and opened doors that allowed the Good News music that Professor Dorsey coined as gospel songs to be a blessing to many, myself included.

Rev. Clay Evans wrote the Foreword and said “Nowhere has the origin of the Chicago Gospel Festival ever been documented, and the notion that, 35 years later, its founding and early history is now being written is wise.