One of my favorite hymns, seems very fitting this morning:

[George II]

[luvs2sing]

1. This song changed my life..

when it came on the radio when I was a kid. I had never heard Black gospel before, and I fell in love with it and scoured the radio stations looking forward more. It touched me like no other music has. And two years ago, I was singing in a local community college gospel choir, and I got the solo for “ Oh, Happy Day”. I had only been rehearsing it for fifty years.

[George II]

2. Wow, to get the solo part for that hymn, you must have been beaming! Good for you.

[luvs2sing]

3. I was the thrill of a lifetime.

[electric_blue68]

13. Woooot, how exciting is that! 👏

[NurseJackie]

4. I love the "Sister Act 2" version

[George II]

5. Whoopie!!!

[NurseJackie]

6. Thank you so much!

[Dave in VA]

7. Thanks for posting this!

I don't like sharing personal information on the internet, but this brings back some wonderful memories!

Nearly 50 years ago I attended college in a small southern town. I had studied piano for 10 years at that time in my life. My soon to be wife was completing her teacher's practicum at the local high school and was telling me about a group of minority students that the school was continuously suspending for bad behavior.

I went to the school and asked if I could have these students for the final bell of the day in the chorus room. They were like sure, don't know what you can do that we can't, but sure.

After about 3 weeks I asked if the students could have a few minutes at the end of the staff meeting next week. They were skeptical, but finally the principal said ok. I also asked if the meeting could be in the chorus room.

We waited outside of the chorus room until the principal invited us in. The students gathered around the piano and we did a Grammy worthy performance of this song (If I do say so myself.) The shock on all of the staff member's faces was worth every minute spent getting these young "problem children" ready for this moment.

We later were invited to local churches and community centers to sing.

Thanks for this memory.

[George II]

8. Great story, proves there ARE no "problem children". Thanks.

[bobnicewander]

12. Thank you for

sharing your story Dave. It made my day.

[luvs2sing]

15. I love everything about this!

I am in a community choir here in Columbus that has a program at a local high school that had the distinction of being the worst performing high school in the city. It is racially mixed, and most of the students are below the poverty line. Over a third of the enrolled students participate in our program and, in ten years, every single student has graduated. We have taken this group all over the country on spring break trips where they not only sing but participate in volunteer projects. Our director even fostered two young men who were in dangerous family situations and went on to adopt them. They both graduated from college with honors this spring. We have fun, we work hard, and sometimes, we work miracles.

[link:https://www.harmonyproject.com|

[ancianita]

9. Heartwarming. Thank you.

[bobnicewander]

10. Celebration At Big Sur - Oh Happy Days!

One of my two favorites along with the one at this link.

It's always a happy time! Joan Baez, and many others (full list at the end of the video). Love the vibe I get when I watch this.

Celebration At Big Sur - Oh Happy Days!

[George II]

11. Never saw that before, thanks! Damn, they all look so young, what happened to all of us?

[luvs2sing]

16. Amazing!

Thanks for this!

[electric_blue68]

14. I remember this hitting the airwaves of my rock station...

since it mixed up Motown in the play lists this wasn't a big leap. Loved it then, and now.

[luvs2sing]

17. I first heard it on the radio..

when I was 11. A friend and I were splashing around in my little pool when it came on the radio. I stopped playing and said, “What is THAT??” My friend, who had older brothers and sisters said, “That’s Happy Day. My sister has the record”, like it was no big deal, but it was a very big deal to me. That song made me feel like I’d never felt before. It changed my life.