Mahalia Jackson/ Didn’t It Rain At Newport

From the film, Jazz On A Summer’s Day. I was there. I was a young teenager, and my quite hip and sophisticated mother and I drove down from Massachusetts for two days of the Festival. That day started out bright and lovely, but as is well known, by the time Mahalia took the stage the rain had started. After deciding to continue despite the weather – – the crowd urged her on – – – she cut loose with that fabulous version of “Didn’t It Rain.”