Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Book profiles Gay sisters, an overlooked Chicago gospel trio who played with Mahalia Jackson, Sam Cooke

suntimes.com · 2h · first reportShare

If you name any gospel music star of the mid-20th century, Gregory Donald Gay probably has a story about them. His family was visited by singer Clara Ward, who would pull her 1957 Chrysler limousine into the driveway of their Woodlawn home. As a starstruck teenager, he sang before the “father of gospel music,” Thomas A. Dorsey. At 5 years old, he witnessed icon Mahalia Jackson having a fit backstage at Carnegie Hall after Ward’s group – particularly Marion Williams – brought the house down. “She didn't want anybody to outsing her,” said Gay, now 81 and the longtime pastor of the Prayer Center Church of God in Christ in Woodlawn. Gregory Donald Gay, 81, is the longtime pastor of the Prayer Center Church of God in Christ in Woodlawn. He co-wrote a new book, “Can I Get a Witness! Faith, Family and Chicago Gospel Music,” about his sisters’ influential singing group. Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times As the younger brother of the Gay Sisters gospel group, he had a front row seat for the actio