
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s favorite song - "Take My Hand, Precious Lord"
From the Wiki article: "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" is a beloved Gospel song with text written by Thomas A. Dorsey (1899-1993), who also adapted the melody. Dorsey said that he had heard Blind Connie Williams sing his version of this song with "Precious Lord" and used it as inspiration. Dorsey wrote "Precious Lord" in response to his inconsolable bereavement at the death of his wife, Nettie Harper, in childbirth, and his infant son in August 1932. It was Martin Luther King Jr.'s favorite song, and he often invited gospel singer Mahalia Jackson to sing it at civil rights rallies to inspire crowds; at his request she sang it at his funeral in April 1968. King's last words before his assassination was a request for musician Ben Branch to play it at a service he was due to attend that night. King's exact last words were "Ben, make sure you play 'Take My Hand, Precious Lord' in the meeting tonight. Play it real pretty." This straightforward arrangement by Wilbur Held, with lovely simplicity can be found in the collection Six Gospel Hymn Preludes on Sheet Music Plus. The Pipe organ sample is the 1927 E.M. Skinner from Immanuel Presbyterian in Los Angeles CA and sampled by Evensong music.