This uplifting evening is a celebration of the early spirituals that emerged from slave communities as well as a tribute to Happy Club, its founders and the Phoenix Renaissance Community that emerged from it. During His visit in 1958, Meher Baba asked to hear a recording of Marian Anderson singing ‘He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands’ as well as ‘Let My People Go.’ In the late 1980s, Cathy Riley collected 120 songs from Sumter County African American seniors. This concert is a commemoration of those powerful songs. Spirituals were also a part of the Happy Club legacy. After it was established in the late 1960s, Reverend Lee, his wife and their 10 children would come sing Gullah songs for and with the Happy Club kids, at Thanksgiving time and sometimes at Christmas time, too.

Video, 1:22:20
Meeting Place, Meher Spiritual Center
February 13, 2026
Meher Center Archives
Uploaded 3/20/2026