The Black church choir has long been one of the most influential pillars in Black music, giving the world timeless hymns, unforgettable gospel classics, groundbreaking praise and generations of powerhouse vocalists. But in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic, many churches have scaled back or eliminated their choirs in favor of smaller praise teams, and let’s just say, folks are less than thrilled about it. If you’re missing the kind of praise and worship that used to shake the building, you’re not alone.
In honor of Black Music Month, we’re looking back at some of the most iconic Black church choirs whose voices helped shape worship, culture and the soundtrack of countless Sunday mornings.
Love Fellowship Choir
@bethesda.theater7
Experience an unforgettable night of gospel greatness with the legendary Hezekiah Walker and the renowned Love Fellowship Choir live at Bethesda Theater!
From timeless anthems to powerful praise, this will be an evening filled with energy, inspiration, and soul-moving music that brings everyone together.
Saturday, June 13th
Doors & Dinner: 5PM
Showtime: 7PM Gather your family, friends, and church family for a night of celebration, worship, and pure gospel excellence. This is more than a concert — it’s an experience you’ll never forget.
Founded by the late gospel trailblazer Hezekiah Walker, Love Fellowship Choir became one of the defining voices of contemporary gospel in the 1990s. Known for hits like “Souled Out” — and their legendary swag — folks couldn’t get enough of their gospel sounds.
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir grew into a Grammy-winning powerhouse known for stirring performances of songs like “Psalm 34” and “He’s Been Faithful.”
Edwin Hawkins & The Edwin Hawkins Singers
Best known for “Oh Happy Day,” this Grammy-winning choir helped bring gospel music into the mainstream in the late 1960s. Their sound bridged church tradition and popular music, opening the door for modern gospel choirs worldwide.
“Oh Happy Day”
@universalcxntent Happy Day” finale) from Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit is one of the most iconic and uplifting musical moments in 90s cinema. Led by Whoopi Goldberg as Deloris Van Cartier and featuring a breakout performance by Lauryn Hill, the scene injects a fresh, hip-hop-infused gospel energy into Beethoven’s classical Ode to Joy. #culturemusic #90smusic #sisteract #laurynhill
This honorable mention needs to be called out. Released in 1969 by Edwin Hawkins and The Edwin Hawkins Singers, “Oh Happy Day” became a landmark in gospel and musical history. The hit — which was the first gospel song to reach mainstream secular charts — was featured in the beloved Black film “Sister Act” and graced church stages everywhere for decades to come.
Thompson Community Singers
Led by the late Tommy “Tommy T” Thompson, this Chicago-based choir became known for its raw, high-energy sound and hits like “Holy Spirit” and “I’ve Got a Feeling.” Their influence helped define the modern Chicago gospel choir tradition and its powerful, community-rooted style.
Kirk Franklin Choirs
Kirk Franklin successfully reshaped the sound of church choirs by fusing traditional gospel with hip-hop, R&B and contemporary production. It was such an iconic era, and folks just had a good old time singing along.
Franklin & The Family
From The Family to God’s Property and The Nu Nation, Franklin’s choirs helped push gospel into mainstream culture while maintaining its church-rooted energy.
Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Choir
Based in Houston’s historic Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, the choir is known for its rich, traditional gospel sound and powerful Sunday worship performances. According to the filming of a recent service, their choir — and their matching ensembles — are still intact (Amen).
West Angeles Church of God in Christ Mass Choir
One of the most beloved Los Angeles-based gospel choirs, the group helped define the West Coast COGIC sound with its big, dynamic arrangements and praise-driven energy. Led by Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr., the choir earned its reputation by elevating contemporary gospel while staying rooted in traditional church choir power.
Abyssinian Baptist Church Cathedral Choir
@jeanettebmezzo What a GLORIOUS Christmas Concert we had at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, led by the Magnificent Vinroy Brown.
I also got the pleasure of singing one of my favorite Christmas Songs, “I Wonder As I Wander,” with the choir. Grateful!
#christmas #iwonderasiwander #operasinger #sacredmusic #operasingersoftiktok
Based in one of the oldest Black Baptist congregations in the U.S., Abyssinian Baptist Church Cathedral Choir has long served as a pillar of worship. From time to time, this talented team dabbles in opera and features iconic musical guests like Lauryn Hill.
James Cleveland & The Southern California Community Choir
Led by the “King of Gospel,” this choir helped define modern gospel music with its powerful arrangements and mass-choir sound. Their landmark recording “Peace Be Still” became one of the most important gospel projects of all time, shaping church choirs for generations.
The Mississippi Mass Choir
You can’t have a conversation about legendary gospel choirs without including The Mississippi Mass Choir. A favorite of gospel music lovers everywhere, the choir is known for powerful, traditional worship recordings, including “Your Grace and Mercy,” that helped define the modern choir sound.
The Georgia Mass Choir
One of the most recognizable gospel choirs of the modern era, the Georgia Mass Choir brought a rich, traditional Southern gospel sound to mainstream audiences in the 1980s and 1990s.
