Harlem Gospel Choir tickets

The Harlem Gospel Choir has performed for everyone from elementary school children in the Bronx to Pope John Paul II and Nobel Prize winner Nelson Mandela. The choir performs in a style deeply rooted in African-American history and culture, and their brand of contemporary gospel is tinged with jazz and the blues. The group has drawn worldwide acclaim, including from Oprah Winfrey, Harry Belafonte and even Dee Snyder of Twisted Sister.

Harlem Gospel Choir history

The Harlem Gospel Choir was founded in 1986 on the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. The group was founded by Allen Bailey and is made up of 65 members that include teenagers and adults.

The group regularly performs on Sundays at New York's B.B. King Blues Club and Grill, headlining the gospel brunch. The event has proven so successful that it has inspired other gospel brunches in other cities, including one at the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C.

The group also makes regular appearances at the Children's Museum of Manhattan and is well-known for their performances at New York area elementary schools, high schools and universities, particularly during Black History Month. Many of these performances are open to the public.

The Harlem Gospel Choir often takes the show on the road and has toured the world multiple times. The touring group is smaller than the full choir and includes nine singers and two musicians. Recent tour stops have included cities as diverse as Budapest, Hungary; Mantua, Italy and Shanghai, China.

Harlem Gospel Choir highlights

The Harlem Gospel Choir has made several appearances on national TV programs, including The Today Show and Good Morning America. They have also appeared on The Colbert Report, where they collaborated with Mavis Staples, Sean Lennon and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy to perform a powerful rendition of John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)."

The Harlem Gospel Choir often collaborates with other musical luminaries. Highlights include U2's Bono, Diana Ross, John Legend and Josh Groban.

Similar to Harlem Gospel Choir

Harlem Gospel Choir fans might also be interested in Bill Gaither, Donnie McClurkin, the New York City Gay Men's Chorus and the Cecilia Chorus of New York.