Between the ages of 5 and 9 years old, I was taken to some form of Christian church by no less than three different sets of neighbors.

I believe that these kind and loving souls had the best intentions, which is why my parents (God love them), neither one of them church-going or practicing Christians, were perfectly content to let me go. For a time, they knew it made me happy, and not because I was leaving them to charm snakes or stab sheep. It was not that I loved scripture or waking up early by myself on Sunday, strapping on a collared dress and rolling over to one or the other neighboring houses to witness hairbrush fighting while riding in one of many minivans. For me, I could care less about the ideology, the dogma and the varying beliefs. It all came down to one thing. The choir.

The Harlem Gospel Choir. (Picture | Inspire(d) Media

My favorite church to attend was the same Pentecostal church that liked to remind me of my potential for Paganism and told me that my family would undoubtedly end up in hell, were we to remain on our current, very unsaved path. This church had a rocking sound system, a dynamic preacher and a flashy, dare I say, ultra fabulous choir director. When we sang to Christ, man, we sang to CHRIST!  I could feel it. I could smell it. I was alive. All these years later, to be honest with you, I believe I could have been singing about cantaloupes or pony rides, but when those keys started strumming and those hands started clapping, I had to shout out to that Pharaoh to let my people go! Damn it!

Jody Mazur, the Director of Education and Community Outreach at The Suffolk Cultural Arts Center, tells me:  “Gospel is huge here.”  When I ask her why The Harlem Gospel Choir has decided to come to The Suffolk Center, specifically, she reminds me that Suffolk is, apparently, a hotbed for budding Gospel singers and that the choir community there is something close to off the chain. In fact, The Suffolk Cultural Arts Center hosts “Gospel-Fest” each November, a weekend-long event featuring different choirs from a variety of different churches from around the area. This event is actually quite similar to the model behind the formation of The Harlem Gospel Choir, in its original sense.

In 1986, Allen Bailey, a longtime music and talent director and producer, was inspired by a talk given on Martin Luther King, Jr. to use his connections in entertainment to give back to the community. Having spent the past 20 years working with the likes of Lionel Richie and The Commodores, Prince, Michael Jackson, Isaac Hayes and (this is the BEST PART.  Wait for it…) Mr. T (I know!), Mr. Bailey wanted to use the healing power of music to charge the international community to make change and raise money for children’s charities. The choir is comprised of the most talented and celebrated musicians and singers from Harlem’s Black Churches and the New York/Tri State area.  The theme of every performance is simply:  “Bringing people and nations together and giving something back.”

From the choir...

Over the past twenty-four years, the group has traveled the globe, performing with Madonna, for Oprah, at Lincoln Center, and at The Sanders Center in Cambridge. And, of course, they come here. To Suffolk. The hotbed. To a small theater (capacity is about 500) in downtown, historic Suffolk, to perform what sweet Jody tells me is an emotional, physical, empowering musical experience. She reminds me that I won’t be sitting down and you know what? I believe her.

Because I remember screaming out to that Pharaoh, all those years ago and I remember the first time I knew what being powerful felt like. Who doesn’t need a little extra inspiration, these days? Who can say they wouldn’t benefit from a little feet stomping and hand clapping in a most non-denominational way? Who among us is honest when they tell you they don’t need to be reminded, from time to time, that we are all together in this gig and we are jamming, jumping and alive? I don’t know. I can take all the healing power available, lately, and all the juju I can get. So? This Sunday afternoon, before the The Super Bowl and after what may be a lazy morning without the involvement of even one of my neighbors, I’m suiting up and rolling out to Suffolk to witness and participate in a performance by The World Famous Harlem Gospel Choir. Don’t look for me in my seat.

The Harlem Gospel Choir will perform a 90-minute concert, this Sunday, February 5, 2010 at 3 PM at The Suffolk Cultural Arts Center.  Tickets are  $20 for adults and $15 for students.