The Story Behind
The Harlem Angels
Where the idea came from, and how it became a book.
The idea began after S. R. Greenky watched a young family member struggle during a difficult school transition.
Rather than respond with a lecture, he started developing a story: three young characters who found their footing through music, a teacher who took them seriously, and a friendship strong enough to carry all of it. The stories helped. The student, who had failed seventh grade and was required to repeat it, went on to excel, graduate early, and start college at seventeen.
It was written first as a television concept, described at the time as a modern take on the kind of warm, values-driven series that had worked a generation earlier. It caught the interest of people in the industry, and then, as projects often do, it was set aside for a number of years.
Greenky returned to it and rebuilt it as a book series with original songs and music videos. Origin Story is where that version begins.
The book’s foreword sets out Greenky’s own belief about the relationship between communication, confidence, education and opportunity. It is his view, offered to readers as encouragement rather than instruction.
Created and written by S. R. Greenky
The Harlem Angels is published by The Harlem Angels, LLC, a subsidiary of Green Key Management, LLC.
The book carries a dedication that explains the intent more directly than any biography could: the story of these three girls, and their teacher, is dedicated to those who were once loved and who left too soon, and to what they could have become.
Early support for the concept
Two comments from the project’s earlier development as a television concept. Both are quoted on the back cover of Origin Story.
“I can’t believe that a visionary network executive would not see the positive, national impact of a program such as this…. A show like ‘The Harlem Angels’ can only be the springboard to more positive ideas and programming for generations to come.”
Jerold Franks
(“Lost,” “Fame,” etc.), former President of the Casting Society of America, educator, philanthropist.
“Michael (Landon) would have approved the concept of ‘The Harlem Angels.’ It’s 21st Century material.”
Jay Eller
Michael Landon’s business manager for over 30 years, and the person who negotiated the “Highway To Heaven” series deal with NBC.
The project’s origin has also been written about by Richard Johnson, former editor of “Page Six” in The New York Post, excerpted on the back cover of Origin Story.
Where it goes next
Books
Origin Story is Book One. Book Two is on the way.
Music and video
An original song catalog and a growing set of music videos, all made for the series.
Screen
Scripts have been written for an animated series. The project is open to representation and to production partners.
Nothing here describes a production that has been commissioned or ordered.