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

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. (Dec.)