I was always confused when I heard the name Tommy Dorsey. But then I learned there were two Tommy Dorseys. One was a trombone player that had a big dance band, and he was White. Then, there was that piano player who had a blues band, and he was Black. One never paid much attention to God, lived the high life, and died at the age of fifty one. One, finally surrendered to God, lived to the age of ninety three and became known as the Father of gospel music. That was the Black one.

That Tommy Dorsey was born on July 1,1899 in Georgia. His Father was a minister and his Mother was a music teacher.He grew up listening to the music and styles of popular vaudville acts at the theatre, and that's where he got his first job, selling concessions. he was so talented that he actually taught himself how to read music. He liked playing music, so he began to pick up jobs playing for private parties. he started calling himself Barrellhouse Tommy.

His lifestyle began to pull him away from God, so at seventeen, he left home and ended up in Chicago. That's where he started playing in local gin joints. During that time, he married a young lady named Nettie Harper. Tommey was an ambitious young man, so he enrolled in the Chicago school of composition and arranging so that he could improve on his music skills. That's when he discovered his talent for writing songs, and began writing songs for blues singers.

That's when he started his wildcat jazz band. It was the stage band for Ma Rainey, the famous blues singer. The name changed again to Georgia Tom and that's when he really got down and dirty. Many of his lyrics were sexually suggestive, with titles such asd Tight Like That. Although nowadays, titles like that would not seem that outrageous. But fore that time, it was scandolous. It sold an amazing seven million copies. He was on top of the world. But when God has something for you to do, he knows how to come and get you.

You might think you are going along like gangbusters. Money might be flowing. And most folk feel when they have money, everything is allright. But let me tell you, just because you have money does not mean you are necessarily blessed. It could be a curse. God might have allowed you to get that money just so He could get your attention when you lose it. So, one night when Tommy was on stage playing, he began to feel a little unsteady.It got worse and worse. Doctors didn't know what to do. getting more rest didn't help.

His band had to get another piano player and his carreer seemed to be over. He fell into a deep depression and considered suicide. One day he walked down to lake Michican, thinking about how his carreer was in the tank. He couldn't take care of his family, and I'm sure Satan was around somewhere telling him that he was useless. He thought, "the world will be a better place, if I just jump in and kill myself." Have you ever been that depressed? If you haven't, then maybe you can't understand his motivation, but I have been there.

That's when he started thinking about the God of his youth. You see sometimes God has to do something drastic to get our attention. Sometimes, when he gets tired of coming to you in sermons, and parents and friends begging you to change, and that doesn't work, He has to come out with the big guns. Hit you where you live. Some of you might not know what I'm talking about. You might not have a hard head like I do at times. God can just talk real soft and nice to you, and you'll fall right in line. But some of you hardheads know what I'm talking about.

When God starts messing with your health and your money, then He can get your attention. Sometimes, He just has to knock you down. Some folk just don't understand gentleness. Well, God had his attention. Before now, he never would have listened to his sister-in-law. But now, when she suggested that he come to church that next day, he was ready to listen. She let God use her and reminded him that God is a healer. She reasured him that God had not forgotten about him. So, he went to church that next day.

And this is how it went down. As soon as he got to church, the minister zeroed right in on him. Bishop H.H. Haley walked right up to him and said Brother Dorsey, there is no reason for you to be looking so poorly and feeling so bad. Tha Lord has too much work for you to do, to let you die. So, for the first time in his life, he surrendered to God. The Bishop prayed for him and he was healed instantly. That goes to show us that even our lives at times might seem hopeless. Your finances tore up from the floor up, or you might even be on your death bed. Just know when God has something for you to do, he can raise you up. There is no problem too big, or sin too bad, that He can't overcome. Our God specializes in the big and the bad.

You must understand though, you can't have your own way. You must surrender to God. You have to put your will down and get into God's will. Even Christ had to surrender his will to God the Father. Luke 22:42-Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me, nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. Tommy began to get stronger mentally, physically, and spiritually. The question was, what did God have for him to do? He couldn't imagine. All those years he was in the blues clubs, God was getting him ready.

All the bad stuff you have been going thru, and all of your twists and turns, God is getting you ready for something. You thought your suffering was all for nothing. That it was just a coincidence. But God's got something for you to do. He's not thru with you yet. You just needed to be broke down a little bit more. Humble yourself and surrender to God. You know who you are. God does not want any haughty pompous person representing him. So, Tommy didn't know what he was going to do.

The only thing he knew about was music. And a certain type of music at that. The kind of music that church people called worldly. But he also knew that kind of music touched people's souls, and spoke to their hearts. So, he figured he could write music with the riffs and rythms and 8 bar notes like the blues songs. Instead of using stories about sex, despair, and defiance, he could tell stories about hope and affirmation and God's love. He said he would call it good news music. Since gospel meant good news, he would call it gospel music

His first gospel song was, "If you see my savior, tell him that you saw me". He wanted his friend who had died to tell Jesus that he would be coming home some day. That he was on his way. Because of his bluesy tunes, many church leaders accused him of bringing the world into the church. He was so discouraged, that he went back to wrighting secular songs for a while, just to make a living. But in 1932, God blessed him with the position of choir director at one of Chicago's mega churches. It was the famous pilgrim Baptist church, where he served for forty years.

Since he had a recognized ministry position, offers began to flow in for him to come and be a guest musician. he was finally recognized. Churches started asking him to be the featured soloist at their revivals and coferences. Once, he was asked to go to a large revival in St. Louis, but he and his wife's baby was almost due. He thought about not going, but it seemed like such a great opportunity. So, he went. The crowd loved him and kept asking for more. But as soon as he finished and sat down, he got a telegram that said, "your wife just died". He couldn't believe it.

Two days later, his new born baby boy died also. He went into a depression and felt like God had deserted him. Have you ever been there? Have you ever been so depressed that you thought God had abandoned you? He didn't want to serve God anymore, he just wanted to go back to his blues world. He was feeling sorry for himself, and he wanted to pout. He was thinking, 'after all I have done for you God, and look what you did to me". Ley me tell you something, God doesn't owe us anything.

All of us have been blessed more than we deserve already. And if He doesn't do anything else, He's already done more than enough. But then, God sent a friend who knew what he needed. He arranged for him to be left alone in a room with a piano. Something had told him not to go to St. Louis, but he didn't listen. Was it God? If he had stayed, he would have been with his beloved wife, Nettie, when she died. From that moment on, he vowed to listen more closely to God. So, in his pain and hurt, he reached out to God and wrote his most memorable song.

"Take My Hand Precious Lord" That song has ministered to thousands, maybe millions of people who have gone thru their own personal grief and heartache. Tommy Dorsey surrendered to God and stepped into his devine destiny. Encouraging God's children through music. Will you surrender and step into your devine destiny? I know for some of you, God has something for you to do. It's time, we need you. The whole creation is groaning for you to be revealed. God is calling you. All you have to do is surrender.

Tommy Dorsey's testimony was that he surrendered to God and became a true servant and light for God's glory. Tommy Dorsey is the Father of Gospel music and he is also one of my African American heroes.