Mahalia Jackson Triumphs at Newport Jazz Festival

Mahalia Jackson's performance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1958 brought her gospel artistry to a predominantly white audience and was captured in the concert film 'Jazz on a Summer's Day,' introducing her towering voice to international audiences. Jackson was already the most celebrated gospel singer in the world and had long refused to cross over into secular music despite enormous commercial pressure. Her Newport performance demonstrated that gospel music could move audiences of any background and cemented her status as one of America's greatest vocal artists.