His music career started in 1947 , at the age of 18 by learning his craft from Thomas A. Dorsey , Mahalia Jackson , and Robert Johnson . After this mentoring process , he started the Thompson Community Singers ( nicknamed , " The Tommies " ) , that appeared on many episodes of the '' Jubilee Showcase '' . They even played Grant Park during the Chicago Gospel Music Festival and at the Apollo Theater and at Madison Square Garden in New York City . This got them enough recognition to play in England , Italy , and many other countries around the globe . Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers released twenty-two musical projects , and a few of those were released posthumously . Ten albums got charted on the '' Billboard '' Gospel Albums chart , with five of them achieving the top spot on the chart . They received numerous accolades ranging from a nomination for the Best Gospel Album , Group or Choir at the 1988 Soul Train Music Awards and for Best Gospel Album at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards . In addition , they won a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards , while they were nominated two other times . The Thompson Community Singers boasts some notable alumni particularly , Darius Brooks , Ricky Dillard , and Jessy Dixon
37th Annual Grammy Awards
37th Annual Grammy Awards
Milton Brunson