Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Shine Heavenly Light

 

    Margaret Vizinau

Shine Heavenly Light
I'll Search Heaven For You

Reid's Religious Gems RRG-113

Reid's label was owned by Melvin Reid, who ran a record store on Sacramento Street in Berkeley beginning in 1945. The store also sponsored a weekly gospel radio show on KWBR (now KDIA) which featured Melvin's uncle Paul.



From the moment she was born, Margaret Vizinau faced obstacles. Despite them all-including being born blind after her pregnant mother contracted German measles-Margaret grew up to be a woman of great faith who dedicated her life to the Lord. Her family migrated to the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1940s to escape the rampant discrimination in the South, and in 1950, Margaret entered an interracial marriage with a nonbeliever. But after six years and the birth of two sons, Dexter and Hank, the marriage ended in a painful divorce. Margaret supported her boys by playing the piano and singing for local churches, but she faced countless challenges as a blind, African American single parent.  


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