Thursday, August 21, 2008

The Current-Jan. 2008 Feature Story 2

Harlem Gospel Choir Brings Harmony To Tahlequah

By Regan Henson

If you didn’t get everything on your Christmas list you might want to consider treating yourself to a late present when the Harlem Gospel Choir visits the Center for the Performing Arts on the beautiful Tahlequah Campus of the Northeastern State University. Featuring the greatest performers from various black churches in Harlem, the Harlem Gospel Choir has been spreading the message of faith and love through music for more than 20 years.

The Choir was founded in 1986 by Allen Bailey, who has worked in the entertainment industry for more than four decades, promoting such diverse talents as Mr. T, Isaac Hayes, Prince and the Commodores. Bailey’s resume also includes working as the entertainment coordinator for Muhammad Ali and George Foreman’s 1974 heavyweight championship fight, The Rumble in the Jungle in Zaire, and assisting the east coast production of We Are the World in 1985 and USA for Africa in 1986. It was while attending a celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Harlem’s famed Cotton Club that Bailey got the idea to form the Choir.

In the years since forming the Choir, Bailey has focused all his attention on promoting the group and spreading its message throughout the world, most recently performing in Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, and in Japan where the Choir celebrated its tenth year of performing in the country.
The theme of every performance the Choir gives is: Bringing People and Nations Together and Giving Something Back, and give back the group does. The group is actively involved in numerous charities, including the Leukemia Society, the Cancer Foundation, Feed the Children (for which funds are raised through the sale of bracelets at the Choir’s shows and on its website) and many others. The group has performed at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a camp for terminally-ill children founded by Paul Newman, and with Jimmy Cliff at The Sounds of Hope Concert to raise funds for African children who have been afflicted with AIDS.

Over the years the Choir has performed for thousands of people, including world and religious leaders. Nelson Mandela saw them perform at Yankee Stadium and Pope John Paul II saw them in Central Park. The group has also shared the stage with some of the biggest names in music, including U2, Mary J. Blige, Cyndi Lauper, Lyle Lovett, Yolanda Adams and even the virtual band, the Gorillaz. Each Sunday the Choir gives a performance at B.B. King’s Blues Club in New York City’s Times Square. The Sunday show features the usual foot stomping, hand clapping performance, and includes a home-style soul food buffet.

But if you can’t make it to Times Square, that’s just fine. Just be at the Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, Feb. 1 at 7:30pm. The performance is part of the 22nd Annual Galaxy of Stars series and is presented by Go Ye Village. For ticket information, call the NSU box office at (918)458-2078. You can visit the Harlem Gospel Choir online at www.harlemgospelchoir.com.

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