About Us
The Indiana Conference Lay Male Chorus
Through dogged effort, determined to succeed, dedicated to the task and talent to sing and teach, Landy Williams, Allen-Chapel, Indpls., took upon himself the task of recruiting men from African Methodist Episcopal Churches to form an a cappella Chorus. The Charter recruits were William Baxter, Ray Crowe. Harold Gray, Ulysses Hearring, Charles Holley, Landy Williams all from Allen Chapel-Indpls, James Gilbert and Churchel Swarn from Bethel Plainfield-Indpls, and Herman Grady from Providence-Indpls. Thomas Smith, a Baptist from Seventh Star Church was the four part Harmony Director.
The Chorus was organized Feb 21, 1981 at Allen Chapel-Indpls. The first concert was given at Allen Chapel-Indpls. in October of 1981.
Not content with a local Chorus, Landy visioned an Indiana Conference Chorus. With the official approval, support, and encouragement of the Indiana Conference Lay President, John Tillery of George R. Davis-Gary, as well as the Lay Executive Board, Landy began recruiting and has never stopped.
At any and every A.M. E. meeting through the conference, Landy has been there, buttonholing and convincing A.M.E. men they could and should sing in the Chorus.
To be able to sing a cappella, the Chorus must practice as a group. On the third Saturday of every month the Chorus goes from city to town to city to meet, fellowship, and practice. The faces are not always the same but the spirit and purpose are the same.
The Chorus sings wherever and whenever asked for the joy of singing praises to the power and glory of our Lord, as well as the pleasure and enfoyment it may bring to those who ask us, and to those, who come to listen.
Audiences have been smaller in number than the Chorus, as well as over a thousand people. The Chorus sings for Lay Days, Anniversary Programs, One hour Concerts, as well as its Yearly Anniversary Program.
As the flyers state. "Have Songs will Travel." Try us.
Our singing appearance at the 1984 Connectional Convention of the African Methodist Episcopal held at the Westin Hotel in Detroit, Michigan had been the highlight of our brief history.