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Voices From the Choir: Oh Happy Day ReflectionsVoices From the Choir Author: Steven & Clara Williams
We would like to introduce you to our podcast series, Voices From The Choir: Oh Happy Day Reflections. I will be your host for these nine episodes as we hear the personal stories from some of the original members of the Northern California State Youth Choir of the Church of God in Christ. As they reflect on their amazing journey in 1969 singing in the State Youth Choir. After recording an album to raise money to travel to a church choir competition, things change when one of the songs broke out to be a hit record. The song was Oh Happy Day, and its success changed everything. It changed their lives and changed the gospel music world, even to this day. The choir transformed into the Edwin Hawkins Singers, and they were thrust into taking their gospel message onto the world stage, performing with some of the biggest artists in music. During our 50 years of marriage, Steve and I have often discussed telling the story of the Northern California State Youth Choirs journey from a denominational church choir into one of the world's top recording artists. We are excited to share for the first time the stories of some of the choir members journey. I am one of the voices you will hear along with some of the original members of the Northern California State Youth Choir. In 1968, the choir recorded an album titled Let US Go Into the House of the Lord. This album included Oh Happy Day. In the spring of 1969, Oh Happy Day reached the US top five on the Billboard charts. On its way to selling 7 million records and won a Grammy Award. The inspiration for this podcast is from the Academy Award winning documentary Summer of Soul, directed by Questlove, which was centered around the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, a seminal African-American cultural event that went untold for 50 years. You're going to be hearing stories about growing up in the Bay Area with its rich gospel music history. You will hear stories about raising families, building community and finding joy in spiritual food Language: en Genres: Music, Music History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Pastor Ron Thompson
Episode 9
Monday, 15 May, 2023
Pastor Ron Thompson sang with Edwin Hawkins in the Laney Junior College choir, where they both attended school. Pastor Ron talks about the amazing talent they grew up with, in the Oakland area, and the tradition of “midnight musicals” in the COGIC church. He describes how he was able to navigate his role as a husband, kids, college student, and a full-time job at General Motors while touring with the Edwin Hawkins Singers, and reflects on what prompted his ultimate decision to leave the Edwin Hawkins tour. He talks about The Holy Spirit as an integral part of the choir’s DNA, and how The Holy Spirit made every performance a ministry.Highlights:Ron meets Edwin during his studies at Laney Community College;Edwin asks Ron to join the Hebrew Boys, and later the Northern California Youth Choir:Ron misses the original recording, due to his work schedule at General Motors:The success of “Oh Happy Day” inspires GM to give Ronald time off to tour with the choir:The. Hebrew Boys record their album while on tour with the Edwin Hawkins singers, in New York: and“Oh Happy Day” touches the hearts of people across denominational divides.
