Lift Every Voice: Expecting the Most and Getting the Best from All of God's Children [Hardcover]

Walter Turnbull (Author), Howard Manly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1995

The founder of the Boys Choir of Harlem recounts how he formed his Grammy Award-winning group through teaching the importance of discipline and demanding the best of his charges, lessons he learned through his own impoverished Mississippi childhood. 50,000 first printing. Tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Boys Choir of Harlem is known throughout the world, having toured in Europe and Asia as well as in the U.S. The individual almost single-handedly responsible for its success is Turnbull, who rose from poverty in backwoods Mississippi at a time when segregationists were fighting their last-ditch battles. An outstanding vocalist who earned a doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music, he began with a small church choir and built it into the larger boys' choir that went on to have its own academy, which sends 98% of its graduates to college. The obstacles the deeply religious Turnbull faced are the problems that plague all of urban society-broken families, irresponsible or addicted parents, the lure of the streets-but he has defeated almost all of them. Prize-winning Boston Globe reporter Manly joins Turnbull in telling this truly inspiring story, supplemented with contributions from his students. Author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Turnbull, director of the Boys Choir of Harlem, started the group 26 years ago to "share the joy of music with African American children." His success with motivating and transforming the lives of the boys eventually helped the choir evolve into the Boys Choir of Harlem Academy. Music and the music instructors in Turnbull's life were instrumental in shaping his beliefs and desire to rise above his situation. His educational achievements, from an elementary one-room schoolhouse to master's and doctorate degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, are noteworthy for a poor child raised in Mississippi before the civil-rights era. The boys' stories of successes and failures shaped Turnbull's vision of providing musical, academic, financial, and emotional support for his choir members. It is evident from his own drive and ambition that he has instilled the same work ethic and courage in his young men of Harlem. Turnbull's musical triumphs have propelled him into international prominence, and his goodwill and philosophy are lessons for us all. Lillian Lewis

Product Details

• Hardcover: 234 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Books; 1st edition (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786861649
• ISBN-13: 978-0786861644
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,007,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BCH More Than A Choir, December 5, 2000

By 

Ms. Joan M. Geurin (Northern CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lift Every Voice: Expecting the Most and Getting the Best from All of God's Children (Hardcover)

Dr. Walter Turnbull shares not only the story of his upbringing and motivations, but he blends these lessons into the direction and fullfillment of the Boy's Choir of Harlem (BCH). This book is an intense look behind the faces, costumes and music of BCH. It reveals the intimate details of struggle of the members of the choir, the staff and ultimately the African-American/Latino males of our society at large. It forces the reader to look deeply into their own pysche and how one views his fellow man as well as himself. There are highs and lows throughout, but you never sense a moment of utter defeat! This is a triumphant wake-up call to all with regard to the potential of all our youth, if all are willing to pay the price for our dreams! A must read!