Betty Jackson King

Betty Jackson King (Feb 17, 1928 – June 1, 1994) was an American pianist, singer, teacher, choral conductor, and composer. She was best known for her vocal works.

Biography King, who was of African American heritage, was born in 1928 in Chicago. She first started learning music from her mother, Gertrude Jackson Taylor. King's father, Reverend Frederick D. Jackson a pastor at the Community Church of Woodlawn, helped expose her to church hymns and spirituals. Along with her mother and sister Catherine, she sang in the Jacksonian Trio.

She was married to Vincent King, had one daughter, Rochelle King, and has two granddaughters Vincena and Joysaleen. King wrote arrangements of spirituals, operas (Saul of Tarsus, My Servant Job), a cantata (Simon of Cyrene) and a requiem. Saul of Tarsus has had several performances since it was premiered in 1952. She wrote a ballet, Kids in School With Me, and various other chamber and choral compositions.

Piano and Organ

Aftermath (A Tone Poem) (1975) Four Seasonal Sketches for piano (1973) Mother Goose Parade (1971) Nuptial Suite for organ (1969)

Songs

A Lullaby for You (1973) A Set of Three Dunbar Poems (1975) Calvary (1954) Climbing High Mountains (1990) I Am Crucified With Christ (1971) In the Springtime (1979) It's Me, O Lord (1988) No Harm (1972) Rejoice in the Lord Alway (1971) The Pledge (1991)