The Boys Choir of Harlem was a choir located in Harlem, New York City. Members would receive rigorous voice training and performed many types of music, including classical, hip-hop, R&B, jazz, and gospel music. 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 and performed live for the visits of international dignitaries such as Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Pope John Paul II.
The choir was also recorded for soundtracks of films, including Glory, Malcolm X, and many Spike Lee films. they performed a cover on Kanye West's song "Two Words." and they have been part of albums with Michael Jackson, Kathleen Battle, Luciano Pavarotti, Quincy Jones, Kiss, and more.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The Boys Choir of Harlem first appeared at the 1983 Parade and they performed Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" on the Frozen Woodland float.
For their second appearance on The Marvel Universe float which was during the 1988 Parade, they sang the incredible Whitney Houston sentimental ballad "One Moment in Time" with The Gold Medal Winners of the 1988 Summer Olympics.
As for the Choir's third and final time at the 1995 Parade, they performed Stevie Wonder's "Take The Time Out" with LL Cool J on the Cornucopia float.