first National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses was held at Pilgrim Baptist Church. Within the next year, Dorsey established and expanded the institutions that would secure his place as a gospel legend. The growth of the Dorsey House of Music and the creation of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses would demonstrate the power of Dorsey's commitment to gospel. n the late 1970s, few outside the gospel community knew of Thomas A. Dorsey's contributions. Between 1979 and 1983, Dorsey's star rose again. In 1979, Thomas Andrew Dorsey became the first African American inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was recognized in a tribute at the Smithsonian Institution and in the documentary Say Amen Somebody. Following the movie, Dorsey was honored at universities and cities across the globe....
