Boys Choir of Harlem ends after 41 years

[The Straight Story]

Boys Choir of Harlem ends after 41 years


NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- The Boys Choir of Harlem has officially disbanded, it was announced at the New York neighborhood's Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church.

Former member Terrance Wright confirmed the rumors at the place where the renowned choral group last performed in 2007, around the time of the death of Walter J. Turnbull, who established the choir in 1968, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

"Tell the people. Let it be known," Wright said after leading a Dec. 13 Christmas concert by choir alumni at the church. "There is no Boys and Girls Choir of Harlem."

Although it has been about two years since the choir officially performed, no definitive announcement regarding its fate had been made, leaving supporters to hope it would be revived after years of financial woes, the Times said.

Also adding to the group's demise was the conviction of a choir counselor for sexually molesting a 14-year-old boy and the scandal that surrounded the case. Turnbull initially failed to report the child's allegations to authorities when he made them in 2001 and allowed the counselor to continue working with kids.

http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2009/12/23/Boys-Choir-of-Harlem-ends-after-41-years/UPI-66221261594200/

[xultar]

1. Sad.

[SoCalDem]

2. Sad indeed.. something that started out as just a nice venue for young people to sing

morphed into a bloated money-making scheme for grownups, and a place for unscrupulous men to take advantage of them:(

[tpsbmam]

3. How sad.....

The Boys Choir of Harlem is attached to many memories growing up in NYC. I was about 12 or 13 when the choir began and they performed at many places I went in the city. That's a sad loss for the city, for the community & for the boys who've been helped so much by being part of it. I think people's charity dollars are so stretched right now they just can't do it all, I'm impressed that people do what they do in terms of donating but it's sad that groups like the choir are suffering.

[Pithlet]

4. That's too bad.

:(

[chaplainM]

5. No gratitude!

After all that praising they did to Him, God doesn't lift a finger to help them out of a financial setback.