We would like to introduce you to our podcast series, Voices From The Choir: Oh Happy Day Reflections. You will hear 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 break out to become a hit record. The song was Oh Happy Day. Its success changed everything. It changed the lives of the choir members 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 history. 

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During our 50 years of marriage, we have often discussed telling the story of the Northern California State Youth Choir’s journey from a denominational church choir into one of the world's top recording artists.