Doris Akers

Doris Akers

Early Life

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, to Floyd and Pearl Akers. She had nine siblings; Edward, Floyd, Evelyn, Marian, Donald, Nellie, Bernice, Harley, and Charles. 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, Missouri 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 her teens, she dedicated her life and talents exclusively to the service of the Lord.

Career

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 skills, and Dorothy Simmons' mesmerizing soprano voice, they became nationally known, and traveled the country performing at many churches and venues. They also released many recordings on several labels: Score, Superb, Super, Songs of the Cross, Imperial Records, and RCA Victor; they even had a session with Art Rupe's label Specialty Records in February, 1951. Doris and Dorothy also launched their own music publishing company, "Simmons and Akers Music House", to distribute the many songs Doris had composed by this time. Among those that were published in this music house included, "It Means A Lot to Know Jesus for Yourself", "He's Everywhere", "God Spoke to Me One Day", "I Never Knew Joy Before", "Jesus is The Name", "He's Alright with Me", "He Delivered Me", and "Lead Me, Guide Me".

In 1958, she founded and became director of the Sky Pilot Choir, becoming one of the first artists to help bridge the barrier between black and white Gospel. The Sky Pilot Choir was extremely popular, and people would travel long distances just to hear them perform. They were also featured on many recordings, television shows, and radio broadcasts across the country. This same year, Doris, along with her friend Mahalia Jackson, co-wrote the song, "Lord, Don't Move the Mountain", which sold over a million records.

Death

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.

Legacy and Honors

She received many awards including back-to-back "Gospel Music Composer of the Year" in both 1960 and 1961. She was posthumously inducted to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Her songs appear in many hymnals and have been sung by countless people in churches around the world; songs such as, such as, "Sweet, Sweet Spirit", "Lead Me, Guide Me", You Can't Beat God Giving", "Grow Closer","I Cannot Fail The Lord", "He Delivered Me", "God Is So Good" "My Expectation".

Her compositions 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, George Beverly Shea, Elvis Presley, Conway Twitty and many others.