Steven 

Hi, my name is Steven Williams. 

Clara 

And my name is Clara Williams. 

Steven 

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. 

Clara 

During our 50 years of marriage, Steve and I 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. 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. 

Steven 

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 and daily life. 

Clara 

Seeing footage of the choir singing at the Harlem Cultural Festival captured in the Summer of Soul documentary sparked the flame to share stories of our collective yet individual reflections as some of the original members of the Edwin Hawkins Singers. The Harlem Cultural Festival represented one of the many entertainment venues the choir sang at. We sing at rock festivals, jazz festivals, concert halls, Yankee Stadium, and appear on popular television shows of the day. This is a time to tell our story, which has remained stored in our collective memories but not shared beyond friends and 

family. These reflections show the impact of the music from the album. Let us go to the House of the Lord and how its message impacted the world in our lives. 

Steven 

Yes, the stories of the teens and young adults who grew up in the Bay Area in the shadow of the civil rights movement, the Black Panther movement, and the protests surrounding the escalation of the Vietnam War. Their music provided a message for the world to cope with the national and global issues at that time and continues to resonate today. We hope you will be inspired and encouraged by the stories that you will hear. You can find Voices From The Choir Oh Happy Day Reflections wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Clara Williams reflects on growing up in West Oakland, California and attending  Berkeley High School. Her father started his ministry as an associate ordained minister at Ephesians Church of God In Christ (COGIC) - known for its flagship status as one of the largest pentecostal churches in the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area during the early sixties. Clara shares her experiences as a “PK” (preacher’s kid) when her father “accepted the call”  and became a full-time pastor at the “Power House”, COGIC, while maintaining  a full-time job with the City of Berkeley.  She admires her Dad, who subsequently received a doctorate in Divinity. Clara shares the strong community values she learned during her childhood, In speaking of  the Crystalettes, a family social club that her parents and other African American  families created to provide a wholesome supportive space for their families. Clara recalls the origins of the Northern California State Youth Choir of the Church of God in Christ, started by bay area gospel singer celebrities,  Edwin Hawkins and Betty Watson. Clara recounts the gospel scene in the Bay Area and the prominent gospel groups during the 1960s. She remembers her rich experience, and describes the “Oh Happy Day” recording and performances as a testimony she wants to share.

Highlights:

In 1966, Clara discovers the Northern California Youth Choir, and sees an opportunity to have additional church activities outside of her father’s church;

The choir’s recording project to sell their own music, begins as a fundraiser to finance a trip to an east coast COGIC youth conference, becomes an unexpected mega billboard hit;

Dorothy Morrison,  a member of Clara’s church, is selected as  the lead singer, and “Oh Happy Day” is recorded in 1968;

Despite the excitement of the recording, Clara’s family faces the challenge of her mother’s diagnosis of a life long heart condition she could no longer endure without surgical intervention  in 1968, and she is worried that her mother may not survive the new surgical procedures; and

In the next episode, Clara’s story continues and “Oh Happy Day” becomes an overnight success.

Clara Williams recalls the moment that catapulted “Oh Happy Day” onto the radio waves and into the hearts of people across the country. She chronicles the series of events, surprising changes and tense moments that followed. Clara speaks of  coming of age on a national tour, shortly after the death of her mother - and some of the most treasured performers who emerged during this era.

Highlights:

• How “Oh Happy Day” becomes an overnight sensation, and peer and community reaction that was beyond anything they ever imagined;
• A special business meeting is called to change the name to the Edwin Hawkins singers - and whether the Northern California Youth Choir would continue to exist;.
• Clara challenges Edwin for making deals and taking action on his own, without informing the choir, but decides to stay with the Edwin Hawkins Singers; and
• Performing with The Beach Boys, and performing at rock festivals with everyone from Diana Ross and The Jackson Five.

In the next episode, receive a lesson in San Francisco/Oakland gospel music history from Kathy Gaines.