THE HARLEM Gospel Choir is possibly the most famous choir in the world and the first one that comes to mind when we think of the great tradition of Black American gospel music.
Allen Bailey founded the choir on January 15 1986 on the 57th anniversary of the birth of Dr Martin Luther King. Before founding the choir he was a promotional director for Lionel Ritchie, Prince, Michael Jackson, Mr T, and Isaac Hayes, and was involved in the Rumble In The Jungle event, which saw Muhammad Ali square off against George Foreman.
Since then the choir has become one of the best loved in the world and has performed for Nelson Mandela at the Yankee Stadium, for Pope John Paul II in Central Park, and with The ChieftainsS. Indeed the band’s rise to international fame in the late 1980s has four Irishmen to thank in part.
“Chris Blackwell, the owner of Island Records at the time, visited our church,” Bailey told me when I interviewed him a few years ago. “We did a lot of cover versions and we turn every song into a Gospel song. He heard us doing ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’ and just flipped. He got in touch with U2 and then Island got in touch with our pastor.
“They said U2 wanted to perform with our choir and our pastor said “U who?” They told him they played rock’n’roll and our pastor told them that U2 better understand that ‘We rock’n’roll too. We rock for Jesus and roll for the Lord!’”
A live recording of the choir singing ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’ with Bono was one of the highlights of U2’s Rattle and Hum and leaves The Joshua Tree version in the dust!
The HGC is heading west his month to play both Galway and Castlebar, so what can audiences expect? “We try to emulate what happens on Sunday in church and get participation with the audience,” says Bailey. “It’s inspirational music and people want to be inspired. We give people that lift. You forget about your problems because you just won’t sit down.”
The Harlem Gospel Choir play the Town Hall Theatre on Tuesday November 24 and Wednesday 25 at 8pm. Tickets are available from the Town Hall on 091 - 569777. The choir also play the Royal Castlebar Theatre on Saturday November at 7pm. Tickets are available on www.ticketmaster.ie as well as from the Royal Theatre Box Office on 0818 300 000.
