Doris Akers

Doris Mae Akers is undoubtedly one of the most underrated Gospel composers of the past century. This brilliant African-American composer was born in Brookfield, Missouri on May 23, 1923, one of ten children born to Floyd and Pearl Akers. She was born into a very musical family, her father had a beautiful singing voice, her mother was a self-taught musician, and most of her siblings, too, were blessed with musical talent. The family moved to Kirksville when she was five years old. Her stepfather John taught her to play 3 chords on the piano when she was about 8 years old. From there, she could pretty much play any song she wanted. Within 2 years, her teacher had passed on all piano-playing duties over to her. Her brother Donald played trumpet and she was quite fascinated by it. Picking it up, she tried to play it, but it didn't come as easy to her as the piano had. Later that night, as she slept, she dreamed she could play Bud Greene's "Once In A While", somehow playing the song with no difficulties. When she awoke, she picked up the trumpet and played the song straight through!

During the 1930s she formed a group with her siblings, Edward, Marian and Donald, who went by the name of "Dot and The Swingsters". They played the music of the 30s and 40s. "Doe"-as she was affectionately known by family and close friends-wrote her first song at the age of 10 called, "Keep The Fire Burning In Me"-the first of over 500 songs she would go on to write in her lifetime.

In 1945, at the age of 22, Doris moved to Los Angeles. She would sometimes sing and play piano for the Sallie Martin Singers, and began her own group, the "Doris Akers Singers". In 1947, Doris published her first song with Martin & Morris, entitled "I Want A Double Portion Of God's Love". That same year, she teamed up with Dorothy Simmons and Hattie Hawkins-who at that time were both in the Sallie Martin Singers-and formed the Simmons-Akers Trio. With Doris' phenomenal compositions and piano, and Dorothy Simmons' mesmerizing soprano voice, they became nationally known, and traveled the country on concert tours. They also released many recordings on several labels: Score, Superb, Super, Imperial, and RCA Victor; they even had a session with Art Rupe's label Specialty in February 1951. Doris and Dorothy also launched their own music publishing company, "Simmons and Akers Music House"

Her songs have been recorded by many Gospel and secular artists, including Mahalia Jackson, The Statesmen, The Caravans, Willie Mae Ford Smith, Clara Ward, Sallie Martin Singers, Brother Joe May, Bill Gaither, Ernie Haase, Elvis Presley, Conway Twitty and countless others.

Ms. Akers lived out the final years of her life in Minneapolis, MN serving as Minister of Music in Grace Temple Deliverance Center. Visiting the doctor about a broken ankle in 1994, she discovered she had spinal cancer.

Doris Akers died July 26, 1995.