The Gospel Choir From Harry and Meghan’s Wedding Just Got A Record Deal
Kingdom Choir Signs with Sony Music UK Image by Getty Images
This news makes our hearts sing with delight.
The gospel choir that performed at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s watershed wedding signed a record deal with Sony Music UK earlier this week. They belted out “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King at the nuptials, skyrocketing to international fame.
The group, The Kingdom Choir, is a London-based and formerly relatively unknown group. They had only garnered 200 audience members at their largest gig prior to singing at the royal wedding, which was watched by millions of people around the world. The group has announced that they will release an album through Sony Music in November. The choir leader, Karen Gibson, told Reuters that they are “absolutely over the moon….it’s a dream.”
“Stand By Me” was deliberately chosen to be performed at the royal wedding due to its message of inclusion, acceptance, and romance. Yes, the Jewish connection to this touching report is slight, but we can’t help kvelling anyway. Two of the songwriters of the smash hit single, Stand By Me, are Jewish! You read that right – Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber helped co-write and produce the gospel song with King. The 1960 song, which has been recorded over 400 times, shot up to the top of the Billboard gospel charts and was viewed more than 10 million times on Youtube after the royal wedding.
When our fellow Jews thrive, we cannot help but feel a dash of pride. And when we join together with communities of color to do so, it’s even better.
Mazel tov, Kingdom Choir!
Tamar Skydell is an intern at The Forward. You can contact her at [email protected]
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
