The Boys Choir of Harlem (also known as the Harlem Boys Choir) was a choir located in Harlem, New York City, United States. Its last performance was in 2007 and the group folded shortly thereafter due to several controversies, a large budget deficit, and the death of its founder.
Founded in 1968 by Dr. Walter Turnbull at the Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church in Harlem, the choir grew to be more than just a performing group. Drawn from children in the neighborhood, the majority of the choir's members were African American or Hispanic. In its early years, Rev. Frederick B. Williams gave them a base at the Church of the Intercession at 155th Street and Broadway.
The choir established a professional school incorporating a regular academic curriculum, the Choir Academy of Harlem. It was supervised by the New York City Department of Education; at its peak, it had a student body of over 500 boys and girls. Because of staff scandals, the group lost use of the school facility in 2006.
Performers received rigorous voice training and performed many types of music, including classical, hip-hop, R&B, jazz, and gospel music. The choir was internationally known. Over 150,000 people saw the choir live each year across the United States as well as in Canada, France, Japan, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Unlike its Austrian cousin, the Vienna Boys Choir, the Boys Choir of Harlem did not include only boys who had not reached puberty. The range of music performed was such that it required both natural boy sopranos whose voices had not yet changed and more mature voices of teenagers who could sing tenor and bass roles.
The choir performed for Presidents at the White House and dignitaries at the United Nations. It also performed live for the visits of international dignitaries such as Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Pope John Paul II.
The choir was recorded for soundtracks of films, including Glory, Malcolm X, and many Spike Lee films. It performed on Chicago rapper Kanye West's song "Two Words." The boys' voices have also been part of albums with Michael Jackson, Kathleen Battle, Luciano Pavarotti, Quincy Jones, Kiss, and more. The choir also performed "America the Beautiful" to open WrestleMania XX.
Following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the choir was invited to sing "God Bless America" at the Cantor Fitzgerald memorial service in Central Park. This was filmed in the documentary In Memoriam: New York City 9/11/01.
In 1994, the choir recorded the Christmas song "Christmas Time Uptown" with Alvin and the Chipmunks for the album A Very Merry Chipmunk.
In 1995 they performed in The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True, a musical concert at Lincoln Center to benefit the Children's Defense Fund. The performance was originally broadcast on Turner Network Television (TNT), and issued on CD and video in 1996. The choir collaborated with R&B singer Joe on his song "Ghetto Child".
The choir for many years enjoyed the sponsorship of the City of New York; former NYC Mayor David Dinkins authorized their free use of the Arthur Schomburg School on East 127th Street in Harlem. The choir director lost this support through a series of scandals. First, his lack of financial controls led to the program's running up a $5 million deficit. Second, in 2001, the choir's chief counselor reportedly abused a student. Dr. Turnbull failed to fire him or report the abuse to authorities. As a result, in early 2006 the city required Dr. Turnbull and other choir staff to leave their long-time home. The Choir relocated to the Metropolitan Community Methodist Church.
Dr. Walter Turnbull died at age 62 on March 23, 2007, in a New York City hospital after having suffered a stroke. In 2009 choir alumnus Terrance Wright announced at the Metropolitan Community Methodist Church that the Choir was officially closed down.[1]
The Boys Choir of Harlem performed in the soundtrack to the film Glory.
In 1996, the Choir was awarded the National Medal of Arts.[2]
[1] "Deal offered to save Harlem Boys Choir from eviction — choir would stay as after-school activity", CNN.com, December 29, 2005