Georgia Gordon Taylor facts for kids
Georgia Gordon Taylor (born Georgia Gordon; 1855 – June 7, 1913) was a talented American soprano singer. She came from the state of Tennessee. Georgia is best known for being the leader of the "Original Fisk Jubilee Singers". This famous group helped raise money for Fisk University.
Early Life and Education
Georgia Gordon was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1855. Her mother, Mercy Duke Gordon, was born in 1833. Her father, George Gordon, was born in 1830. He was an enslaved person. Georgia also had a half-sister named Elwin.
When she was young, Georgia did not go to school. Instead, she learned to read by studying the Bible. In 1868, she began studying at Fisk University. There, she learned literature from Helen Clarissa Morgan. She also studied music with George L. White.
Joining the Fisk Jubilee Singers
In 1872, Georgia became a member of the Jubilee Singers. She was one of the first singers to tour with the group. They traveled across the United States and Europe in 1872 and 1873. A very special moment was when they performed for Queen Victoria in England.
For seven years, Georgia was the leader of the group. She worked almost constantly. She traveled widely to support Fisk University. The group performed a special kind of singing that began among enslaved people in the South. Georgia had a beautiful soprano voice that many people loved to hear.
Later Life and Legacy
After her time as a singer, Georgia married Preston Taylor. He was the founder of Greenwood Cemetery in Nashville. He was also a minister at the Lee Avenue Christian Disciples of Christ Church. Georgia worked alongside him in the church. They had one child, Preston G. Taylor, who sadly passed away when he was seven months old.
Georgia Gordon Taylor died in 1913 in Nashville. She was buried in Greenwood Cemetery. A special plaque there remembers her as an original Fisk Jubilee Singer. In 1978, after her death, Fisk University honored her with a bachelor's degree.
