This Saturday, the Newcomb College Institute’s Skau Art and Music fund will sponsor a concert and conference in honor of the great gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.

The “Queen of Gospel” and civil rights activist was born in New Orleans in 1911. Taking the  recording scene by storm with her 1946 hit “Move On Up A Little Higher,” she went on to win four Grammy Awards and record dozens of albums before her death in 1972.

She was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

The tribute this weekend will take place at Tulane University’s Dixon Hall, beginning with a conference at 3:30 p.m. about Jackson’s life and legacy in New Orleans. It will be led by Rev. Dr. Dwight Webster, Jerry Brock, Dr. Matt Sakakeeny, and Dr. Joyce Jackson.

Following this, another conference on the influence of gospel in New Orleans music will begin at 6:00 p.m., with speakers Irma Thomas, Dr. Michael White, and Cynthia Girtley.

To conclude the evening, there will be an all-gospel concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. and featuring Irma Thomas with guest organist Diane Peterson and Dr. Michael White’s Original Liberty Jazz Band featuring guest vocalist Cynthia Girtley.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit www.tulane.it/mahalianola.