Thurl Bailey makes an “viewers greeting” on the Convention Heart earlier than the “Music and the Spoken Phrase” broadcast in Salt Lake Metropolis on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
Thurl Bailey makes an “viewers greeting” on the Convention Heart earlier than the “Music and the Spoken Phrase” broadcast in Salt Lake Metropolis on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
Choir members sing throughout Music and the Spoken Phrase broadcast in Salt Lake Metropolis on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
Thurl Bailey talks with Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé on the Convention Heart earlier than the “Music and the Spoken Phrase” broadcast in Salt Lake Metropolis on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
Mack Wilberg directs on the Convention Heart for “Music and the Spoken Phrase” broadcast in Salt Lake Metropolis on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
Thurl Bailey gracefully delivered in his “rookie debut” Sunday morning.
The towering 6-foot-11 former NBA participant, wearing a grey go well with with a blue tie, was calm and dignified as he stepped to the mic and greeted the Convention Heart viewers for the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Sq.’s weekly broadcast of “Music and the Spoken Phrase” in Salt Lake Metropolis.
“I'm so honored, so privileged, to be up right here as we speak to welcome all of you right here to this dwell broadcast of ‘Music and the Spoken Phrase,’” Bailey stated. “Wherever you may have traveled from, we're glad you might be right here on today with us on this magnificent Convention Heart to witness this unimaginable expertise, this unimaginable ensemble of musicians right here as we speak.”
Bailey requested for a present of fingers of these attending for the printed for first time, and lots of within the crowd raised their fingers in response.
“Which means we do have just a few rookies in right here,” Bailey stated with a smile. “However don’t fear, that is my sort of rookie debut as your official greeter as we speak. I’ve been instructed when you preserve coming again many times, you'll get the dangle of it. So welcome, all of you first-timers.”
Thurl Bailey makes an “viewers greeting” on the Convention Heart earlier than the “Music and the Spoken Phrase” broadcast in Salt Lake Metropolis on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
Bailey will likely be certainly one of 4 greeters for the Tabernacle Choir on a rotating foundation, becoming a member of Kathy Clayton, Ruth Todd and longtime choir voice Lloyd Newell. The place is voluntary and regarded a calling of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the choir’s sponsoring group.
Bailey will nonetheless proceed his work as a member of the Utah Jazz broadcast group and there will likely be some Sundays when he's away with the group, however he appears to be like ahead to this new alternative.
“I believe it’s a very nice thought and a fantastic expertise for me,” he stated. “It’s sort of a studying second for me, too, as a result of when you may have that calling it's important to dive into studying about it. ... There's some nice historical past behind ‘Music and the Spoken Phrase.’”
Choir President Michael O. Leavitt prolonged the invitation for Bailey to serve with the choir. Bailey was thrilled due to his background in music.
“I really like music,” he stated. “Music has all the time been an necessary a part of my life.”
Choir members sing throughout Music and the Spoken Phrase broadcast in Salt Lake Metropolis on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
As a toddler, Bailey remembers waking as much as discover his mother and father dancing and listening to The Jackson 5 and the Osmonds. He discovered to play tuba and trombone and sang in his church choir and his highschool’s madrigals.
As he bought older, Bailey developed a style for all kinds of music, from R&B to Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole and religious, inspirational music, even nation, because of his spouse, Sindi Bailey. Bailey has additionally produced his personal music lately.
Bailey has by no means carried out with the Tabernacle Choir and is just too previous to audition, however has all the time appreciated its music and inspirational message when doable.
“How will you not be a fan?” he stated. “Now that I’m truly a part of it, in a way, it’s much more particular. ... It’s a special perspective for me now as a result of as a greeter, you might be part of that household in a way. I’m nonetheless a rookie ... and there’s plenty of nervousness that comes together with it, however I’ve bought a fantastic group round me, exhibiting me the ropes, and I’m excited.”
Others are excited as properly to see the choir and church proceed to embrace variety and a worldwide viewers, he stated.
“This can be a nice alternative for me to characterize not simply people who're members of the church, however possibly people who're African American who by no means thought concerning the Tabernacle Choir or the Latter-day Saint religion,” Bailey stated. “It’s a fantastic alternative for me to characterize the church as properly, but in addition to characterize folks of colour and simply individuals who, like myself, have beloved every kind of music, and music means so much to me, so I’m blessed to have the ability to reply this name and share my presents as properly.”
Thurl Bailey talks with Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé on the Convention Heart earlier than the “Music and the Spoken Phrase” broadcast in Salt Lake Metropolis on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
Bailey’s first Sunday on the job got here with plenty of smiles, handshakes and hugs from well-wishers in attendance. He was launched by Elder L. Whitney Clayton, who serves a primary counselor within the Tabernacle Choir presidency and served as a Normal Authority Seventy for the church from 2001 to 2020.
The previous Utah Jazz ahead welcomed the viewers and distinguished friends earlier than offering a quick historical past of “Music and the Spoken Phrase,” the world’s longest, steady community broadcast, which first aired in 1929. He concluded with these phrases:
“What we do hope is that for the subsequent half-hour you'll really feel the love, the inspiration, the hope and the divine message within the efficiency of the Tabernacle Choir, and that in a roundabout way it is possible for you to to hold that with you while you depart right here as you come back to your busy lives. So girls and gents, brothers and sisters please take pleasure in ‘Music and the Spoken Phrase.’”
Mack Wilberg directs on the Convention Heart for “Music and the Spoken Phrase” broadcast in Salt Lake Metropolis on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information