February is Black History Month

Dr. Margaret Pleasant Douroux is a gospel composer, educator and author.

A veteran recording artist, she conducts workshops throughout the United States and Europe and has written more than 100 songs, including “We’re Blessed,” “Rivers of Joy,” “Give Me A Clean Heart,” “If It Had Not Been For The Lord On My Side,” “Trees,” “I’m Glad,” “He Decided To Die,” and “What Shall I Render.”

Her songs have been recorded by the Mighty Clouds of Joy, Tammi Bakker, Pastor Shirley Caesar, the Rev. James Cleveland’s Gospel Music Workshop of America Mass Choir, and the Rev. Clay Evans.

Her career includes five years as minister of music and adult choir director for Mount Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles and was minister of music and choir director for Greater New Bethel Baptist Church of Inglewood, Calif., for more than 30 years.

Douroux retired from the local church music ministry in 2015 after 64 years of service. She also worked 13 years with LAUSD as an elementary school teacher, guidance counselor, and school psychologist. Douroux earned her B.A. degree at CSU-Los Angeles, her M.S. degree and an advanced Master’s Degree at USC, and her Ph.D. at the University of Beverly Hills.

Douroux continues to be living legend in Los Angeles in her role as the founder and CEO of the Heritage Music Foundation, an organization focused on the advancement and preservation of gospel music.

(Hillary Hicks contributed to this report.)