Considered the "the father of gospel music," Thomas Dorsey's professional music career began in Atlanta's blues and jazz clubs in the 1920's.

While working the vaudeville circuit he hooked up with "Ma" Rainey, which earned him some modest recognition.

He wrote his first gospel tune while recovering from a severe bout of depression following the death of his wife.

That first gospel song, "If You See My Savior, Tell Him That You Saw Me" was presented at the National Baptist Convention in 1930.

Although successful in his debut, many traditional church leaders were hostile toward gospel music because of its "honky tonk" origins.

"I got thrown out of some of the best churches," Dorsey once confided to a historian.

Dorsey fused Protestant hymns and spirituals with elements of ragtime, jazz and blues along with instrumentals typical of dance-hall bands. The result was a uniquely urban sound with strong rural roots, mirroring the experience of thousands of northern blacks recently immigrated from the South.

His most famous song, "Take My Hand Precious Lord," published in 1932, has been translated into more than 50 languages.

In all he wrote over 1,000 gospel tunes.