For alternative meanings, see: Calvary (disambiguation), Mount Calvary (disambiguation), and Golgotha (disambiguation).

Traditional site of Golgotha, within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Calvary or Golgotha /ˈɡɒlɡəθə/ was the site, outside of ancient Jerusalem’s early first century walls, at which the crucifixion of Jesus occurred. Calvary and Golgotha are the English names for the site used in Western Christianity.^[1]

Golgotha is the Greek transcription given by the New Testament, of an Aramaic title, which has traditionally been presumed to be Gûlgaltâ (but see below for an alternative); the Bible glosses it as place of [the] skull — Κρανίου Τόπος (Kraniou Topos) in Greek, and Calvariae Locus in Latin, from which we get Calvary.

Biblical references and etymology[link]

The altar at the traditional site of Golgotha. Pilgrims are bowing down to kiss the star which marks the traditional spot where the Cross of Jesus was planted.

The altar at the traditional site of Golgotha.

Golgotha is referred to in early writings as being a hill looking like the skull-pan of a head very near a gate into the city of Jerusalem.

• Origen Against Marcion Book II (259 AD): A spot there is called Golgotha, - of old the fathers' earlier tongue thus called its name, "The skull-pan of a head".

Since the 6th century it has been referred to as the location of a mountain,^[2] and as a small hill since 333.^[3] The Gospels describe it as a place near enough to the city that those coming in and out could read the inscription 'Jesus of Nazareth - King of the Jews'^[4] . When the King James Version was written, the translators used an anglicised version — Calvary — of the Latin gloss from the Vulgate (Calvariæ), to refer to Golgotha in the Gospel of Luke, rather than translate it; subsequent uses of Calvary stem from this single translation decision. The location itself is mentioned in all four canonical Gospels:

• Mark: And they brought him to the place called Gol'gotha (which means the place of a skull).^[5]

• Matthew: And when they came to a place called Gol'gotha (which means the place of a skull).^[6]

• Luke: And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.^[7]

• John: So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Gol'gotha.^[8]

The “place of a skull” etymology is based on the Hebrew verbal root גלל g-l-l, from which the Hebrew word for skull, גֻלְגֹּלֶת (gulggolet),^[9] is derived. A number of alternative explanations have been given for the name. It has been suggested that the Aramaic name is actually Gol Goatha, meaning mount of execution, possibly the same location as the Goatha mentioned in a Book of Jeremiah passage,^[10] describing the geography of Jerusalem^[3] An alternative explanation is that the location was a place of public execution, and the name refers to abandoned skulls that would be found there,^[11] or that the location was near a cemetery, and the name refers to the bones buried there.^[3]

In some Christian and Jewish traditions, the name Golgotha refers to the location of the skull of Adam.^[2] A common version states that Shem and Melchizedek traveled to the resting place of Noah's Ark, retrieved the body of Adam from it, and were led by Angels to Golgotha — described as a skull-shaped hill at the centre of the Earth, where also the serpent's head had been crushed following the Fall of man. This tradition appears in numerous older sources, including the Kitab al-Magall, the Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan, the Cave of Treasures, and the writings of Patriarch Eutychius of Alexandria. It is also suggested that the location's landscape resembled the shape of a skull, and gained its name for that reason.^[3]

Traditional location[link]

The Holy Sepulchre (1) in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem.

The traditional location of Golgotha derives from its identification by Helena, the mother of Constantine I, in 325. A few yards nearby, Helena also identified the location of the Tomb of Jesus and claimed to have discovered the True Cross; her son, Constantine, then built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre around the whole site. In 333, the Pilgrim of Bordeaux, entering from the east described the result:

In Nazénie Garibian de Vartavan's doctoral thesis, now published as La Jérusalem Nouvelle et les premiers sanctuaires chrétiens de l’Arménie. Méthode pour l’étude de l’église comme temple de Dieu, she concluded, through multiple arguments (mainly theological and archaeological), that the true site of Golgotha was precisely at the vertical of the now buried Constantinian basilica's altar and away from where the traditional rock of Golgotha is situated.^[13] The plans published in the book indicate the location of the Golgotha within a precision of less than two meters, below the circular passage situated a metre away from where the blood stained shirt of Christ was traditionally recovered and immediately before the stairs leading down to "St. Helena's Chapel" (the above mentioned mother of Emperor Constantine), alternatively called "St. Vartan's Chapel".

The temple to Aphrodite[link]

Jerusalem after being rebuilt by Hadrian. Two main east-west roads were built rather than the typical one, due to the awkward location of the Temple Mount, blocking the central east-west route.

Prior to Helena's identification, the site had been a temple to Aphrodite. Constantine's construction took over most of the site of the earlier temple enclosure, and the Rotunda and cloister (which was replaced after the 12th century by the present Catholicon and Calvary chapel) roughly overlap with the temple building itself; the basilica church which Constantine built over the remainder of the enclosure was destroyed at the turn of the 11th century, and has not been replaced. Christian tradition justifies this re-use by claiming that the location had originally been a Christian place of veneration, but that Hadrian had deliberately buried these Christian sites and built his own temple on top, on account of his alleged hatred for Christianity.^[14] There is certainly evidence that just 30 years after Hadrian's temple had been built, Christians associated it with the site of Golgotha; Melito of Sardis, a late 2nd century bishop in the region, described the location as in the middle of the street, in the middle of the city,^[15] which matches the position of Hadrian's temple within the late 2nd century city.

However, Hadrian's temple had actually been located there simply because it was the junction of the main north-south road^{[citation needed]} (which is now the Suq Khan-ez-Zeit, etc.) with one of the two main east-west roads (which is now the Via Dolorosa), and directly adjacent to the forum (which is now the location of the (smaller) Muristan); the forum itself had been placed, as is traditional in Roman towns, at the junction of the main north-south road with the (other) main east-west road (which is now El-Bazar/David Street). The temple and forum together took up the entire space between the two main east-west roads (a few above-ground remains of the east end of the temple precinct still survive in the Russian Mission in Exile).^{[citation needed]}

Questions of the location in relation to the city walls[link]

The New Testament describes the crucifixion site, Golgotha, as being "near the city" (John 19:20), and "outside the city wall" (Heb. 13:12). The traditionally identified location is in the heart of Hadrian's city, well within Jerusalem's Old City Walls; there has therefore been some questioning of the legitimacy of the traditional identification on these grounds. Some defenders of this tradition have responded by citing Jewish history of the wall, that the city had been much narrower in Jesus' time, with the site then having been outside the walls; since Herod Agrippa (41–44) is recorded by history as extending the city to the north (beyond the present northern walls), the required repositioning of the western wall is traditionally attributed to him as well. In 2003, Professor Sir Henry Chadwick (former Dean of Christ Church, Oxford) argued that when Hadrian's builders replanned the old city, they "incidentally confirm[ed] the bringing of Golgotha inside a new town wall."^[16]

If the western city wall was originally to the east of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, then the western hill, on which it is sited, would have been advantageous to an enemy

Some Protestant advocates of an alternative site claim that a wall would imply the existence of a defensive ditch outside it, so an earlier wall couldn't be immediately adjacent to the Golgotha site, which combined the presence of the Temple Mount would make the city inside the wall quite thin; essentially for the traditional site to have been outside the wall, the city would have had to be limited to the lower parts of the Tyropoeon Valley, rather than including the defensively advantageous western hill. Since these geographic considerations imply that not including the hill within the walls would be willfully making the city prone to attack from it, some scholars, including the late 19th century surveyors of the Palestine Exploration Fund, consider it unlikely that a wall would ever have been built which would cut the hill off from the city in the valley;^[17] archaeological evidence for the existence an earlier city wall in such a location has never been found.

In another viewpoint, in 2007 Dan Bahat, the former City Archaeologist of Jerusalem and Professor of Land of Israel Studies at Bar-Ilan University, stated that "Six graves from the first century were found on the area of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. That means, this place [was] outside of the city, without any doubt…".^[18] The dating of the tombs is based on the fact that they are in the kokh style, which was common in 1st century; however, the kokh style of tomb was also common in the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC.^[19]

The rockface[link]

The Rock of Golgotha inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

During 1973–1978 restoration works and excavations inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and under the nearby Muristan, it was found that the area was originally a quarry, from which white Meleke limestone was struck;^[20] surviving parts of the quarry to the north-east of the chapel of St. Helena are now accessible from within the chapel (by permission). Inside the church is a rock, about 7 m long by 3 m wide by 4.8 m high,^[20] that is traditionally believed to be all that now remains visible of Golgotha; the design of the church means that the Calvary Chapel contains the upper foot or so of the rock, while the remainder is in the chapel beneath it (known as the tomb of Adam). Virgilio Corbo, a Franciscan priest and archaeologist, present at the excavations, suggested that from the city the little hill (which still exists) could have looked like a skull.^[21]

During a 1986 repair to the floor of the Calvary Chapel by the art historian George Lavas and architect Theo Mitropoulos, a round slot of 11.5 cm diameter was discovered in the rock, partly open on one side (Lavas attributes the open side to accidental damage during his repairs);^[22] although the dating of the slot is uncertain, and could date to Hadrian's temple of Aphrodite, Lavas suggested that it could have been the site of the crucifixion, as it would be strong enough to hold in place a wooden trunk of up to 2.5 m height (among other things).^[23][24] The same restoration work also revealed a crack running across the surface of the rock, which continues down to the Chapel of Adam;^[22] the crack is thought by archaeologists to have been a result of the quarry workmen encountering a flaw in the rock.^[25]

Profile based on attempted reconstruction by a German documentary^[who?].

Based on the late 20th century excavations of the site, there have been a number of attempted reconstructions of the profile of the cliff face. These often attempt to show the site as it would have appeared to Constantine. However, as the ground level in Roman times was about 4–5 feet lower and the site housed Hadrian's temple to Aphrodite, much of the surrounding rocky slope must have been removed long before Constantine built the church on the site. The height of the Golgotha rock itself would have caused it to jut through the platform level of the Aphrodite temple, where it would be clearly visible. The reason for Hadrian not cutting the rock down is uncertain, but Virgilio Corbo suggested that a statue, probably of Aphrodite, was placed on it,^[26] a suggestion also made by Jerome. Some archaeologists have been suggested that prior to Hadrian's use, the rock outcrop had been a nefesh - a Jewish funeral monument, equivalent to the stele.^[27]

Pilgrimages to Constantine's Church[link]

Icon of Jesus being led to Golgotha, 16th century, Theophanes the Cretan (Stavronikita Monastery, Mount Athos).

The Itinerarium Burdigalense speaks of Golgotha in 333: "... On the left hand is the little hill of Golgotha where the Lord was crucified. About a stone's throw from thence is a vault (crypta) wherein His body was laid, and rose again on the third day. There, at present, by the command of the Emperor Constantine, has been built a basilica, that is to say, a church of wondrous beauty,"^[28] Cyril of Jerusalem, a distinguished theologian of the early Church, and eyewitness to the early days of Constantine's edifice, speaks of Golgotha in eight separate passages, sometimes as near to the church in which he and his listeners were assembled:^[29] "Golgotha, the holy hill standing above us here, bears witness to our sight: the Holy Sepulchre bears witness, and the stone which lies there to this day."^[30] And just in such a way the pilgrim Egeria often reported in 383: "… the church, built by Constantine, which is situated in Golgotha …",^[31] and also bishop Eucherius of Lyon wrote to the island presbyter Faustus in 440: "Golgotha is in the middle between the Anastasis and the Martyrium, the place of the Lord's passion, in which still appears that rock which once endured the very cross on which the Lord was.",^[32] and Breviarius de Hierosolyma reports in 530: "From there (the middle of the basilica), you enter into Golgotha, where there is a large court. Here the Lord was crucified. All around that hill, there are silver screens."^[33] (See also: Eusebius in 338^[34]).

Alternative locations[link]

Rocky escarpment that some claim to resemble the face of a skull, located northwest of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, near the Garden Tomb which had never been recognized by any church. In the foreground is an 1880 photograph of the same rock face.

In 1882–83 Major-General Charles George Gordon proposed a different location. The location, which some Protestants call the Garden Tomb, is beneath a cliff which contains two large sunken holes, which Gordon regarded as resembling the eyes of a skull; he and a few others before him believed that the skull-like appearance would have caused the location to be known as Golgotha.

The Garden Tomb contains several ancient burial places, although pottery and archaeological findings in the area have been dated to the 7th century BC, so the site would have been abandoned by the 1st century.^[35] Eusebius comments that Golgotha was in his day (the 4th century) pointed out north of Mount Zion.^[36] Although the hill currently referred to as Mount Zion is indeed south of the traditional site for Golgotha, it has only had that name since the Middle Ages, and previously 'Mount Zion' referred to the Temple Mount itself. The Garden Tomb is north of both.

Another alternate location has been proposed by Rodger Dusatko, a missionary in Germany. He claims that the location of Golgotha is just outside the Lion's gate.

The third century theologian Origen describes Golgotha as a hill in appearance similar to the skull-pan of a head(Against Marcion II). The Gospel of John refers to Golgotha as being very near the city, so near that all who passed by could read the inscription^[19:20]. Considering also the prophecy in Psalms 69:12^[69:12], his place of crucifixion would have been near enough to the gate that Jesus could hear what the people were saying about him there.

The Gospels testify that as Jesus died the temple curtain was rent in two. Also the earliest Gospel harmony, the Diatessaron of Tatian (160 - 175 AD) refers to this incident which those standing on Golgotha witnessed.

And immediately the face of the door of the temple was rent into two parts from top to bottom; and the earth was shaken; and the stones were split to pieces; and the tombs were opened; Diatessaron 52,2

According to this exceptionally early writing, it was the face of the door of the temple which was rent in two. The only place where such a spectacle could have been witnessed would have been on this mount overlooking the temple grounds. And just as Eusebius comments in Onomasticon, it lays north of the ancient Mount Zion.

Golgotha. Place of the skull where the Christ was crucified. It is pointed out in Jerusalem north of Mt. Zion. Eusebius Onomasticon Section C The Gospels.

• 

  View of the Lion's Gate from the top of Golgotha. This is the location of the earlier Sheep Gate near the Roman Quarters of Jerusalem. The street Via Dolorosa leads to this gate. (Neh 3,1,32 and John 5,2)

• 

  View of the priest as he sprinkled the blood towards the entrance of the temple. His view went directly over Golgotha.

• 

  Map showing alternate locations of Golgotha. In ancient times the southern city wall extended until Hezekiah's Tunnel.

Other uses of the name[link]

Golgotha (Crucifixion icon), Orthodox Cathedral in Vilnius.

• The name Calvary often refers to sculptures or pictures representing the scene of the crucifixion of Jesus, or a small wayside shrine incorporating such a picture. It also can be used to describe larger, more monumentlike constructions, essentially artificial hills often built by devotees, especially a tradition in Brittany in France of large stone monuments.
• Churches in various Christian denominations have been named Calvary. The name is also sometimes given to cemeteries, especially those associated with the Roman Catholic Church.
• Two Catholic religious orders have been dedicated to Mount Calvary. Several places worldwide have been named after it; including the town Kalvarija in Lithuania and towns Góra Kalwaria and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska in Poland.
• In the 18th and early 19th centuries at Oxford and Cambridge universities the rooms of the heads of colleges and halls were nicknamed golgotha. Apart from the obvious pun on the place of skulls (i.e. heads), this was also due to the punishments that students received in these rooms.^[37]
• In the Eastern Orthodox Church, a Golgotha is a representation (icon) of the crucified Jesus, often with the Theotokos (Mother of God) and John the Beloved Disciple standing to either side. This is used during Holy Week, especially during the Matins of Great Friday (Good Friday). During the rest of the year, it may stand in the nave of the church, off to one side, and will be the place where Pannikhidas (memorial services) will be chanted.
• A common misspelling of the word cavalry is calvary, often quite confusing.

See also[link]

• Crucifixion of Jesus

Notes[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Calvaire

Coordinates: 31°46′43″N 35°13′46″E / 31.77861°N 35.22944°E / 31.77861; 35.22944

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This article is about the gospel singer. For the footballer, see Richard Smallwood (footballer).

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (September 2008)

Richard Smallwood
Background information
Born	(1948-11-30) November 30, 1948 (age 63)
Origin	Washington, DC, United States
Genres	Gospel music
Occupations	composer, music director, pianist, arranger
Instruments	piano
Years active	1975-present
Labels	Onyx/Muscle Shoals Sound, Sparrow, Word, Capitol, Jive, Verity
Associated acts	The Richard Smallwood Singers Vision

Richard Smallwood (born 30 November 1948 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American Gospel music artist who formed The Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977 in Washington, DC.

Biography[link]

Richard graduated cum laude from Howard University with degrees in both vocal performance and piano, in addition to graduate work in the field of ethnomusicology. Smallwood was a member of The Celestials, the first gospel group on Howard University's campus. That group was the first gospel act to appear at Switzerland's Montreux Jazz Festival. Richard was also a founding member of Howard's first gospel choir.

Smallwood's recording career began in 1982 with the album The Richard Smallwood Singers. The album spent 87 weeks on Billboard's Gospel chart. Its followup, Psalms was nominated for a Grammy. Two years later the album Textures was also nominated. Textures spawned the now-classic "Center Of My Joy" written by Richard Smallwood along with Bill and Gloria Gaither. He won his first Grammy, along with a Dove Award for his production on the Quincy Jones' gospel project Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration.

His music has been recorded by artists such as Destiny's Child, Yolanda Adams, Karen Clark-Sheard, and many more. He even accompanied opera legend Leontyne Price at a White House Christmas celebration during the Reagan administration. Richard, with his current group Vision, has recorded several successful projects for Verity records. He finished his Masters degree in Divinity from Howard University in 2004 and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

Smallwood's next project was recorded live at the Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center in New York. The concert features guests Kim Burrell on "I Can Make This Journey (With You By My Side)," Kelly Price on "Morning Is Breaking," Chaka Khan on "Precious Is Your Name," as well as The Hawkins Family, Tramaine Hawkins, and the original roster of singers who comprised The Richard Smallwood Singers and Vision.^[1]Aretha Franklin and The Clark Sisters will contribute to additional studio tracks to appear on the album.^[2]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

with Richard Smallwood Singers

• Richard Smallwood Singers (Onyx/Benson Records, 1982)
• Psalms (Onyx/Benson Records, 1984)
• Textures (Word, 1986)
• Vision (Word, 1988)
• Portrait (Word, 1990)
• Testimony (Sparrow, 1992)
• Live at Howard University (Sparrow, 1993)

with Vision

• Adoration: Live in Atlanta (Verity, 1996)
• Rejoice (Christmas Project) (Verity, 1997)
• Healing: Live in Detroit (Verity, 1999)
• Persuaded: Live in D.C. (Verity, 2001)
• Journey: Live in New York (Verity, 2007)
• Promises (Verity, 2011)

Compilations[link]

• Gospel Greats (Benson, 1994)
• Memorable Moments (Sparrow, 1999)
• Praise & Worship Songs of Richard Smallwood With Vision (Verity, 2003)
• Quintessential Collection (EMI Gospel, 2007)
• "Center of My Joy" (Rhino/Shanachie, 2007)

Awards & recognitions[link]

• Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame on November 14, 2006 at the Richland Country Club in Nashville, TN.
• Received Howard University Distinguished Achievement Award.

Grammy, Stellar & NAACP Image Award Nominations[link]

• 1984: Grammy Nomination, Best Soul Gospel Performance, Duo or Group - Richard Smallwood Singers: "Psalms"
• 1988: Grammy Nomination, Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male - Richard Smallwood: "You Did It All"
• 1990: Grammy Nomination, Best Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood Singers: "Portrait'
• 1991: Grammy Nomination, Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood Singers: "Testimony"
• 1993: Grammy Nomination, Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood Singers: "Live"
• 2001: Grammy Nomination, Best Traditional Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood with Vision: "Persuaded: Live in DC"
• 2001: NAACP Image Award Nomination for Best Gospel Artist, Traditional - Persuaded: Live in DC
• 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Artist Of The Year - Persuaded: Live in DC; Verity
• 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Song Of The Year - "My Everything (Praise Waiteth)"; Verity
• 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Choir Of The Year - Persuade: Live in DC
• 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Producer Of The Year - Persuaded: Live in DC
• 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Male Vocalist Of The Year - Persuaded: Live in DC
• 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for CD Of The Year - Persuaded: Live in DC
• 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year - Persuaded: Live in DC
• 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Music Video of the Year - Persuaded: Live in DC

Stellar Award Wins[link]

• 2000: Stellar Award for Choir of the Year - Healing – Live in Detroit ^[3]
• 2000: Stellar Award for Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year - Healing – Live in Detroit ^[3]
• 2000: Stellar Award for Traditional Choir of the Year - Healing – Live in Detroit ^[3]
• 2003: Stellar Award for Choir of the Year - Healing – Live in Detroit ^[4]

References[link]

1. ^ "Ladywoo Ministry of Music". August 3, 2005. http://www.freewebs.com/ladywoo/gospelnewshappenings.htm. 
2. ^ Murray, Jawn (August 30, 2005). "Jubilant Journey". AOL Black Voices. http://blackvoices.aol.com/black_entertainment/bvbuzzcanvas/_a/august-30-2005/20050829171909990001. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "15th Annual Stellar Award Results". GospelFlava.com. http://www.gospelflava.com/stellar/stellarresults-2000.html. 
4. ^ "18th Annual Stellar Award Results". GospelFlava.com. http://www.gospelflava.com/stellar/stellarresults-2003.html. 

External links[link]

• Richard Smallwood on Myspace - (Official Richard Smallwood Site)
• Richard Smallwood at Allmusic
• Richard Smallwood Awards
• Richard Smallwood Chart History on Billboard
• Photos of Smallwood's Journey Concert from Landru Design

Jessy Dixon (March 12, 1938 – September 26, 2011) was an American gospel music singer, songwriter, and pianist, with success among audiences across racial lines. He garnered seven Grammy award nominations during his career.

Musicians with whom he worked include Paul Simon, Andrae Crouch, DeGarmo & Key and most recently Bill Gaither in the Homecoming series of concerts. He wrote songs for Amy Grant, Natalie Cole, Cher, and Diana Ross. ^[1]

Dixon was an ordained minister with Calvary Ministries International of Fort Wayne, Indiana.^{[citation needed]}

Biography[link]

Born in San Antonio, Texas, Dixon sang and played his first song at the age of five. As a youngster he moved to Chicago, where he was discovered by James Cleveland, one of the first artists to sing and record Jessy Dixon's compositions, "God Can Do Anything But Fail," and "My God Can Make A Way." The organizers of the Newport Jazz Festival invited him to perform his new song, "The Wicked Shall Cease Their Troubling," at New York's Radio City Music Hall in 1972. After the performance, Dixon and The Jessy Dixon Singers were requested to do four encores. Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel fame), was in the audience and invited Dixon to share the stage with him as lead vocalist on NBC-TV's Saturday Night Live.

Dixon found himself touring with Simon across the U.S., France, Canada, Scandinavia, Israel, and Japan. Dixon's affiliation with Simon lasted eight years, during which time he recorded two albums, Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin' (1974) and Still Crazy After All These Years (1975), both of which sold a million copies.

Bill and Gloria Gaither invited him to sing at a Homecoming video taping. Dixon was a favorite on the series, and has traveled all over the United States and abroad surprising gospel audiences with his stirring performances of "It's A Highway To Heaven," "Operator", "Leaving On My Mind", "Blood Bought Church", "The Wicked Shall Cease Their Troubling", "Lord Prepare Me To Be A Sanctuary", and "I Am Redeemed". Dixon performed in the show, Black Nativity with The Jessy Dixon Theater Group.^{[citation needed]}

Death[link]

Dixon was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, and waged a very hard battle against the disease. Dixon died on September 26, 2011 at his home in Chicago, aged 73. ^[2][3]

Quotes[link]

• Natalie Cole: "Jessy's music is just like him, beautiful."
• Bill Gaither: "I have traveled with Jessy Dixon for the past several years and never have I been with an artist with more heart. He is the real thing."
• Bette Midler: "I've heard Jessy Dixon sing many times and in all of gospel music, Jessy Dixon is my favorite. Jessy Dixon has the gospel soul."
• Diana Ross: "There's an element in Jessy's music that can't be mistaken. That element is love, and wow do I feel it."

References[link]

External links[link]

• Allmusic
• Official website

Kathy Taylor
38th Mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma
In office 2006–2009
Preceded by	Bill LaFortune
Succeeded by	Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr.
Personal details
Born	1955[1] Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Bill Lobeck
Residence	Tulsa, Oklahoma

Kathryn L. Taylor (born 1955) was elected the 38th Mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 4, 2006, in the city's largest voter turnout for a mayoral election.^[2] She defeated Republican incumbent Mayor Bill Lafortune to become Tulsa's second female mayor, after Susan Savage first filled the post in 1992. Taylor previously lived in Florida with her husband Bill Lobeck, CEO of Vanguard Automotive Group. Taylor served as Oklahoma's Secretary of Commerce and Tourism in Governor Brad Henry's administration from 2003 to 2006. She resigned from that post in order to run for Mayor.

As Mayor, Taylor oversaw the completion of Tulsa's "Vision 2025" projects including the BOK Center. Taylor also pushed a successful $450 million street bond issue and construction of a new downtown baseball park. She supervised the move of Tulsa's city hall. On June 4, 2009, Taylor abruptly announced that she would not seek re-election.^[3] On September 30, 2009 Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry announced that Taylor would become his top education adviser after her term as mayor ended on December 7.^[4] Taylor subsequently led Oklahoma's two unsuccessful applications for federal program funds in the "Race to the Top" competition.^[5]

References[link]

External links[link]

• CityMayors.com Profile

v t e Cabinet of Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry (2003-2011)   Cabinet Secretary of Agriculture Terry Peach (2003-2011) Secretary of Commerce and Tourism Kathy Taylor (2003–2006) • Natalie Shirley (2006-2011) Secretary of Education Vacant (2003-2011) Secretary of Energy David Fleischaker (2003-2008) • Bobby Wegener (2008-2011) Secretary of the Environment Miles Tolbert (2003–2008) • J.D. Strong (2008-2011) Secretary of Finance and Revenue Scott Meacham (2003–2011) Secretary of Health Tom Adelson (2003–2004) • Terry Cline (2004-2007) • Mike Crutcher (2007-2009)• Terri L. White (2009-2011) Secretary of Human Resources and Administration Oscar B. Jackson Jr. (2003–2011) Secretary of Human Services Howard Hendrick (2003–2011) Secretary of the Military Harry M. Wyatt III (2003–2009) • Myles Deering (2009-2011) Secretary of Safety and Security Bob Ricks (2003–2004) • Kevin L. Ward (2004-2011) Secretary of Science and Technology Joseph W. Alexander (2004–2011) Secretary of Transportation Phil Tomlinson (2003–2009) • Gary Ridley (2009-2011) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Norman Lamb (2003-2011)

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Dorothy Norwood (born November 29, 1935) is an American gospel singer. She began touring with her family at the age of eight, and in 1956, began singing with Mahalia Jackson. In the early 1960s she was a member of ]The Caravans, and in 1964, she embarked on a solo career, recording her first album, Johnny and Jesus. Her 1991 album Live with the Northern California GMWA Mass Choir reached the Number 1 position on Billboard's Top Forty.

Early life and work with the Caravans[link]

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, she began singing and touring with her family at the age of eight. In 1956, she moved to Chicago, Illinois, and was soon singing with gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Shortly after, during the early 1960s, Norwood became a member of the gospel group The Caravans, which would include such gospel music legends as the Queen of Gospel Albertina Walker who is also Dorothy's role model and confidant. Other members of the Caravans include Shirley Caesar, Inez Andrews, Delores Washington and the late Rev. James Cleveland.

Solo career[link]

Norwood launched her solo career in 1964 and recorded her first album Johnny and Jesus on Savoy Records. It brought her national attention and was certified Gold. She followed it up with the stirring Denied Mother, which also went Gold, and earned her the title "World's Greatest Storyteller".

In her 50 plus years in the Gospel Music Industry, Norwood has recorded over 40 albums, five of which were certified Gold. She has also received numerous awards and citations, including six Grammy Award nominations. As renowned as she is in America, she is just as large in Europe. She has performed in Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and England. In 1972 Norwood agreed to do a 30 state American tour with Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones. She was able to spread the Gospel in a mission field that was virtually closed to gospel artists.

Later career[link]

In February 1991, Evangelist Norwood signed with Malaco Records and recorded Live with the Northern California GMWA Mass Choir. It was an immediate hit, reaching the Number 1 position on Billboard's Top Forty after only 7 weeks. Her second project earned a Stellar Award nomination as well as a Grammy Award nomination.

Norwood presently lives in Georgia.

References[link]

• [1] Dorothy Norwood

Info Update at Malaco Records 'Last Soul Company' blogsite

External links[link]

• [2] Dorothy Norwood bio at Artist Direct website
• http://dorothynorwood.com Dorothy Norwood's Official