Introduction
The world famous Harlem Gospel Choir is the most famous gospel choir in America today. It travels the globe, sharing its joy of faith through its music, & raising funds for children's charities.
The Choir was founded in 1986 by Allen Bailey, who got the idea for the Choir while attending a celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Cotton Club in Harlem. The Choir presents the finest singers & musicians from Harlem's Black Churches & the New York/Tri-State area.
The Harlem Gospel Choir has shared its message of love & inspiration with hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Through its dynamic performances the Choir strive to create a better understanding of the African-American culture & the inspirational music called Gospel as it relates to the Black Church. The theme of every performance is "bringing people & nations together & giving something back".
Every Sunday for the past 8 years the Harlem Gospel Choir bring the Black Church to New York's Times Square in a foot-stomping, hand-clapping, joyous gospel show. The home-style "all you can eat" soul-food buffet is continuously refilled, & the Choir's uplifting performance will have you dancing on the stage. It's a wonderful way to experience the joy of the Black Church without trekking all the way to Harlem!Choir's uplifting performance will have you dancing on the stage. It's a wonderful way to experience the joy of the Black Church without trekking all the way to Harlem!
In 2001 the Choir performed with Jimmy Cliff at the Sounds of Hope Concert, Riverside Church, to raise funds for African children with AIDS. In 1999, 2006, & again in 2008 the Choir performed for terminally-ill children at Paul Newman's Hole in The Wall Gang Camp in Connecticut.
Last year the choir performed at a number of charity functions, including: ABC TV's 2008 Coat Drive (the choir helped to collect over 50,000 coats for the homeless); The Food Bank of New Jersey; & Voices of September 11 (which provides aid & support for families of victims of September 11). In 2003 & again in 2007, the Harlem Gospel Choir performed at the Tabernacle on Martha's Vineyard. The proceeds of these concerts went to benefit The Tabernacle; families of Ft. Bragg soldiers fighting in Iraq & Afghanistan; & the NAACP.
On July 4, 2009, the Harlem Gospel Choir opened its new spiritual retreat for children in the Poconos, PA. This retreat will provide a place for children from Harlem to spend a day filled with fun in a peaceful, natural environment. The Choir's love of children has prompted it to adopt the charity "Feed The Children". Through the sale of our multi-colored silicone wristbands on this website & at our concerts we have raised over $50,000.00 for Feed the Children. Each wristband is US$5.00 & all proceeds (100%) are donated to Feed the Children.
In this new era of hope and change the Choir's voices reflect the RENAISSANCE of Harlem's culture. The Harlem Gospel Choir's music is always "UNFETTERED, JOYOUS & INSPIRATIONAL". Their songs of gospel and inspiration will touch the depths of your soul and lift your spirit to angelic heights - every performance will take your breath away!
BIOGRAPHY
1990
•Performed for Nelson Mandela at Yankee Stadium
1995
•Performed for Pope John Paul II in Central Park, NYC
1999
•Performed with The Chieftains at Carnegie Hall, NYC
2000
•Performed with The Dixie Hummingbirds at the Apollo Theater, Harlem, NYC
2001
•Performed with Diana Ross at US Open, Arthur Ashe Stadium, NYC
•Performed with Jimmy Cliff at Riverside Church, NYC
2003
•Performed with Whoopi Goldberg, NYC
•Featured Artist at Eisteddfod International Music Festival, Wales
•Private audience with Pope John Paul II, The Vatican, Rome
•Performed with Lyle Lovett at Carnegie Hall, NYC
2004
•Performed with Harry Belafonte & Danny Glover at Carnegie Hall, NYC
•Featured Artist, 2004 Jammy Awards, Madison Square Garden, NYC
•Performed with Bono & U2, Rockefeller Center, NYC
2006
•Mayor Bloomberg declares January 15 2006 "Harlem Gospel Choir Day" in New York City
•Congressman Charles Rangel, Senator David Patterson, proclaim the Choir's ministry
•Performed with virtual band Gorillaz, Apollo Theater, Harlem, NYC
•Performed with Yolanda Adams, BB King Blues Club, NYC
•Performed with Cindy Lauper, BB King Blues Club, NYC
•Performed with Andre Rieu & Johann Strauss Orchestra, Radio City Music Hall, NYC
•Performed with Natalia Kukulska; Sala Kongressowa, Warsaw, Poland
2007
•World tour with Andre Rieu; Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Japan
•The album New York Memories with Andre Rieu & Harlem Gospel Choir reaches 5X platinum status, Australia
•Performed for Sir Elton John at his 60th birthday party, Cathedral of St. John The Divine, NYC
•Won American Entertainment Magazine's Readers' Choice Award for Best Arts Performance!
•Performed with the Dixie Hummingbirds
•Performed the music of Mary J Blige; BB King Blues Club, NYC
•Performed with jazz legend Jon Hendricks; BB King Blues Club, NYC
•Performed with Brit Award-nominated band "Razorlight", Irving Plaza, NYC
•Performed "In The Ghetto" with Lisa Marie Presley, Oprah Winfrey Show, Madison Square Garden, NYC
•Performed with US Army band "The Jazz Ambassadors" for Freedom Walk 2007, Pentagon, VA
•Performed at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida, December, 2007
•Performed with Jessica Simpson, Walt Disney Christmas Parade, December, 2007
•Worked with the Wielka Orkiestra Swiatecznej Pomocy - Poland's largest children's charity
2008
•Appeared on Good Morning America's Coat drive and helped them to collect over 155,000 coats for the homeless View Here
•Appeared on the Colbert Report with Ambassador Young
•Performed with Red Hurley, renowned Irish Tenor, Symphony Space, NYC
•Performed at the wedding of Richard Attias & Cecilia Sarkozy, Rainbow Room, NYC
•Appeard on Fox 5 Good Day New York as part of the coverage of the Papal Visit to NYC
•Performed for 60,000 people at Pope Benedict XVI's Concert of Hope at Yankee Stadium
•Performed with Stephanie Mills, Concert of Hope, Yankee stadium
•Sang National Anthem at Chase Field, Phoenix AZ, Arizona Diamondbacks vs San Diego Padres
•Performed benefit concert for Voices of September 11, Greenwich, CT
•Performed at Rhythm & Blues by the Brook with Isaac Hayes, to benefit Plainfield NJ Food Bank
•Toured with Night of the Proms; Belgium, Netherlands & Germany - sang w. Simple Minds, Live, Sinead O'Connor, Robin Gibb, Kim Wilde
•Performed on Christmas edition of multi-award winning TV show Top Chef
•Performed music of Mary J Blige and Stevie Wonder at BB King Blues Club, NYC
•Toured Lebanon, Slovakia, Bulgaria & Korea - first gospel choir from Harlem to visit these countries
2009
•Appeared on Good Morning America's bi-coastal tribute to Michael Jackson in Times Square, on the day of his Funeral
•Opened the Harlem Gospel Choir Spiritual Retreat for Harlem Youth in the Poconos, PA, on July 4
•Performed 2 shows at the historic Lincoln Theatre, Columbus OH, for the theater's grand reopening
•Performed at Kansas City MO community charity Front Porch Alliance's gala benefit
•The Angels in Harlem Gospel Choir is the older touring arm of the Harlem Gospel Choir. It has been christened Angels in Harlem by many famous artists such as U2; by famous dignatories such as the late Pope John Paul II; and by audiences around the world. The Choir still talk about how wonderful it was to meet His Holiness Pope John Paul II in a private audience at the Vatican in 2003.
•In 2004, Angels in Harlem performed with Bono & U2 at Rockefeller Center in New York City to raise funds for World of Hope Fund - a charity dedicated to helping victims of aids in Africa. At this concert, Bono gave Angels in Harlem special recognition for its support of children's charities.
•In 2005 Angels in Harlem toured Louisiana & Mississippi to minister to the victims of Hurricane Katrina; then continued on to tour Poland, Latvia, Lithuania & Estonia.
•In 2006 & 2007 the Angels toured Europe & Japan with Andre Rieu & his Johann Strauss Orchestra, presenting a concert series featuring an innovative calaboration of classical and gospel genres.
•In 2008, continuing to work with touring orchestras, the Angels formed an integral part of Night of the Proms in Belgium, Holland and Germany swith the Il Novecento Orchestra conducted by Robert Groslot; sharing the stage with the likes of Simple Minds, Live, Sinead O'Connor, Robin Gibb and Kim Wilde. The Angels also traveled to Lebanon, the first gospel choir ever to do so; this trip was a wonderful spiritual & musical demonstration of Martin Luther King's goal of bringing nations & people together.
OUR FOUNDER: ALLEN BAILEY
Allen Bailey has worked in the entertainment industry for over 40 years. He was promotional director & advance man for major recording artists & film stars, including Lionel Richie & the Commodores, Prince, Michael Jackson, Mr. T, & Isaac Hayes. Don King appointed Allen entertainment coordinator for Rumble in the Jungle, the heavy-weight title fight between Mohammed Ali & George Foreman in Zaire.
Allen has extensive experience in combining talent management, theatrical production & fund raising. He assisted the east coast production of We are the World in 1985, & worked in a similar capacity for USA for Africa in 1986. Allen has been actively engaged in fund raising efforts for the Leukemia Society, the Cancer Foundation, & the United Negro College Fund. He was chairman for the Martin Luther King Holiday Campaign & it was through this work that the Harlem Gospel Choir was born.
Always active in the Harlem Community, Allen co-ordinated Harlem's entertainment for the Nelson Mandela celebration at Yankee Stadium, and co-directed the Harlem Jazz Festival, the largest jazz festival in the world. Allen now tours full-time with the Harlem Gospel Choir, and is the Choir's front-man and MC.
TESTAMONIALS FROM CELEBRITIES
" The Harlem Gospel Choir are a blesssing from God " Pope John Paul II
" The Harlem Gospel Choir - Thank You!! " Oprah Winfrey
" I am sitting here with tears in my eyes. I just mixed "Oh when the Saints". My goodness, I hope so that we are going to be able to do the tour together!!! Your group is FANTASTIC!!! " Andre Rieu
"Thank you for singing with me!" Stephanie Mills, Concert for Hope, Yankee Stadium, April 20, 2008
"The Harlem Gospel Choir are tremendous!" Sir Elton John
"They are Angels in Harlem" Bono, U2
FROM OUR AUDIENCES:
" The Seretean Center rocked like I have never seen it rock before! When they come to your town, don’t miss the chance to let yourself be moved by the Harlem Gospel Choir. " eatmorecookies
"Tthere is a lot to say or maybe silence should be more suitable. Respect!!! " Tania Roselie
FROM OUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS / CORPORATE CLIENTS:
" As always, Allen and the Choir have been awesome and such a joy to work with. It was pleasure having them as part of our opening weekend. Thanks again for everything and I look forward to when our paths will cross yet again." Rich Corsi, CAPA,Lincoln Theatre, Columbus OH
" On behalf of the Zvonecek-Praha Children's Choir, I would like to thank you again for the wonderful night of Nov. 1, 2007. It is not just your singing which you gave to the Prague audience... you truly believe what you sing about...you are not only wonderful singers with great voices, but beautiful human beings giving out joy and really good news which you call gospel." Jan Vancura, President, Zvonecek Praha Children's Choir
"Thanks to your wonderful singers for the inspiration you provided at our Freedom Walk. The Choir did a perfect job of helping us all reflect on 9/11 and also look forward to a better future." Allison Barber, Department of Defense
"For the first time in its 57-year history the Eisteddfod saw 4000 people dancing in the aisles, in their seats & on the stage. " Gwyn L. Williams, CEO, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod
"I was duly impressed with the Choir's boundless energy--to see our entire congregation on their feet, clapping & dancing & singing & testifying throughout the show, was a rare vision indeed. " Partridge "Buzz" Boswell, Lebanon Opera House, NH
