The classic gospel song "Precious Lord" was written by band leader Tommy Dorsey-Fiction!

The Classic Christian Song "Precious Lord Take My Hand" Was Written by Orchestra Leader Tommy Dorsey-Fiction!

Summary of the eRumor
The story of a jazz musician named Tommy who went through a personal tragedy that led to his writing the song "Precious Lord Take My Hand."
He was Tommy Dorsey, the great trombonist and band leader.

The Truth
There have been many printed references to this story and connected it to the great American band leader, Tommy Dorsey.
But the classic gospel song "Precious Lord Take My Hand" was actually written by a different man with the same name.

The trombonist and band leader named Tommy Dorsey was born in 1905 and died in 1956.

Tommy Dorsey the composer of "Precious Lord Take My Hand" was a jazz pianist and composer was born in 1899 and died in 1993.
He is regarded by many as the father of gospel music.
After a successful career as a blues musician, he switched to gospel music.
For more than 40 years, he was the choir director Chicago's Pilgrim Baptist Church.

The actual story of the tragic death of his wife is a bit different from the eRumor.
In an account in his own words written for Guideposts Magazine, Dorsey said he was actually scheduled to be in St. Louis to sing for a revival.
He had anxiety about going because his wife was in her 9th month of pregnancy
When he left his home to head for St. Louis, he realized that he had forgotten his music case, so he returned to get it and found his wife sleeping.
He stood next to her and felt that something was telling him to stay home.
He decided to leave and headed back to his car for the drive to the meetings.
The next night at the revival and after he had finished singing, a telegram was handed to him that said his wife had just died.
He returned home to learn that his wife had given birth to a baby boy before she died.
Before the night was over, the baby had died as well.
Dorsey went through a difficult period after that.
He said he wanted to give up serving the Lord and go back to jazz.
One of the thoughts that haunted him was whether his reluctance to leave his pregnant wife had been a leading from God and whether he had been disobedient by ignoring it.
He vowed that he would never be insensitive to such a leading again.
It was during a subsequent visit to a friend that he sat down at a piano and found himself at peace and a melody being played.
That became the song "Precious Lord Take My Hand."
Dorsey wrote, "As the Lord gave me these words and melody, He also healed my spirit. I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest, and when we are most open to His restoring power. And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home."

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

In the 1930s, a jazz musician lived named Tommy in a little apartment in the city of
Chicago. He wasn't making much money at the time, and his wife was pregnant. He got a telegram from St. Louis and it said, "Tommy, we want to you play in a jazz band down in St.
Louis. We'll pay you some money and help you pay the food bills." His wife
was pregnant and about ready to deliver any night. It was a cold, snowy
Chicago night, and she said, "Honey, you had better go. But the baby may come
tonight --- I'm not sure, honey, maybe you shouldn't!".....and so they talked
about it....."But we need the money, honey, you had better go." Tommy got on the train, went down to St. Louis, played in the concert, and that
night received his check. And as he came off the stage, he received a
telegram which said, "You are the proud father of a lovely baby son.....but
your wife died in child birth." He got on the train, tears flowing down his
face, feeling guilty about leaving her alone that night. He returned to
Chicago and went to the hospital only to learn that his son had died....that
precious little baby! And Tommy went into a terrible depression and in
discouragement left his music. A week went by, two weeks, three weeks went
by, four weeks. Depressed and discouraged, he then sat at the piano and began
to play a little bit. A tune began to come to his mind, so he began to pen
some words..... 'Precious Lord, take my hand..... lead me on..... and help me
stand..... through the dark and through the night..... lead me on..... to the
right.'"

"Tommy" was none other than the great band leader, Tommy Dorsey.

Pass this on to someone who needs an encouraging word today.