The Blind Boys of Alabama

Blind Boys of Alabama

Blind Boys of Alabama performing at the West Coast Blues & Roots Festival in 2011
Background information
Origin Alabama, United States
Genres Gospel, blues
Years active 1944–present
Website blindboys.com

Blind Boys of Alabama are an American gospel group, from Alabama, United States. They first sang together in 1944. Since then, the group's output has spanned seven decades of tours and appearances, and produced a successful discography including winning five Grammy Awards.

The performing core of the group consists of eight musicians, including four blind singers, original founding member Jimmy Carter,[1] Ben Moore, Eric "Ricky" McKinnie, and Paul Beasley, the guitarist and musical director, Joey Williams, and a keyboard player, a bass player, and a drummer. One of the surviving founding members of the group, Clarence Fountain, is unable to tour with the band due to health concerns.

Since their formation, Blind Boys of Alabama have made it their self-proclaimed goal to "spiritually uplift audiences". The gospel group has been a source of inspiration for those with disabilities. In the words of one of the group’s blind members, Ricky McKinnie, “Our disability doesn’t have to be a handicap. It's not about what you can't do. It's about what you do. And what we do is sing good gospel music."[2]

History

1930s–1940s: Meeting and formation

Blind Boys of Alabama first sang together in the glee club in 1944 at the Alabama Institute for the Blind in Talladega, Alabama. Aged around nine-years-old at the time, the founding members were Clarence Fountain, Jimmy Carter, Johnny Fields, George Scott, Velma Bozman Traylor, Olice Thomas, and J.T. Hutton (the only sighted member). The earliest version of the group was known as The Happy Land Jubilee Singers and originally performed for World War II-era soldiers at training camps in the South. The group’s first professional performance was June 10, 1944. In 1945, the members began touring the gospel circuit.[3]

In 1948, a Newark, New Jersey promoter booked two sets of blind gospel singers – the Happy Land Jubilee Singers from Alabama and the Jackson Harmoneers from Mississippi – and advertised the program as "Battle of the Blind Boys". A friendly rivalry sprouted between the two groups and continued henceforth. The two acts soon changed their names to Five Blind Boys of Alabama and Five Blind Boys of Mississippi. They often toured together, occasionally interchanging members.[4]

In 1948, Blind Boys of Alabama recorded their first single, "I Can See Everybody’s Mother But Mine", on the Vee-Jay label. It was a hit and led to a series of recordings on various record labels.

1950s: Black gospel years

The 1950s were an important decade for black gospel music and Blind Boys of Alabama were among the more prominent groups. Artists across various musical genres like pop and rock began to pull inspiration from black gospel music.[3]

1960s–1970s: Staying true to their roots

During the 1960s and 1970s, soul music gained popularity at the expense of gospel music. Given that Blind Boys of Alabama was a traditional gospel group, its popularity waned during these decades. Soul music was spiritual and socially engaged pop music, and its sales quickly exceeded those of its gospel forerunners. As a result, a number of gospel artists switched over to soul music. However, Blind Boys of Alabama made the choice to retain their focus on gospel music.

Even though societal trends were shifting, Blind Boys of Alabama continued to be active in the 1960s and 1970s. Over the span of these two decades, the gospel group released thirteen more albums and worked with several different record labels, including recording for the Vee-Jay label from 1963 to 1965. In the 1960s, the group's hard-driving gospel sound could be heard from musicians such as Bobby "Blue" Bland and Marvin Gaye. In 1969, Fountain left the group for a decade to try to make it on his own. In the late 1970s, the group re-formed with all the original members.[5]

The band also joined the civil rights movement during the 1960s, performing at benefits for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.[6]

1980s–1990s: Breakout into the mainstream

Secular audiences caught a glimpse of the group at the World's Fair in Knoxville in 1982 and again in 1983. In 1983, Five Blind Boys of Alabama began appearing collectively as Oedipus in the musical theater production "The Gospel at Colonus". Up until this point, the group had primarily played for black church audiences. The play was highly acclaimed as a landmark in American Musical History, receiving two OBIE Awards and nominations for a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award. This production brought Blind Boys of Alabama to the attention of a mainstream audience. With this exposure, Blind Boys of Alabama began working in different genres and alongside more popular artists.[7][8]

Blind Boys of Alabama increased their fan base with their Grammy-nominated 1992 album Deep River, produced by Booker T. Jones, which featured a version of Bob Dylan's "I Believe In You". Blind Boys of Alabama continued experimenting with contemporary popular music with the 1995 live album I Brought Him With Me and the 1997 funk-leaning Holding On.[9]

2000s: Grammy era

"Free at last"
Blind Boys of Alabama perform "Free At Last" at the White House on February 9th 2010, at a celebration of music from the Civil Rights movement
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At the turn of the 21st century, Blind Boys of Alabama began working on the album Spirit of the Century, which was the brainchild of their long-time booking agent Chris Goldsmith. Goldsmith was credited as executive producer on the album and John Chelew was the producer, a partnership that went on to produce several more albums for Blind Boys of Alabama.[10]

Spirit of the Century was Blind Boys of Alabama's most critically acclaimed and commercially successful album to date. The album is a blend of gospel, blues, soul and folk. It won the 2001 Grammy award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album. Several guest musicians were featured alongside Blind Boys of Alabama on this record, including multi-instrumentalist David Lindley, blues guitarist John Hammond, contra bassist Danny Thompson, and harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite.

The album was released on Peter Gabriel’s label Real World Records. Blind Boys’ relationship with Peter Gabriel was also a stepping stone to their appearance on his 2002 album Up. They subsequently opened for Gabriel on the Growing Up worldwide arena tour.

The CBS series 60 Minutes II filmed a documentary segment featuring Blind Boys of Alabama in 2002. Dan Rather told the story of Blind Boys of Alabama through an interview with the remaining founding members Clarence Fountain, Jimmy Carter, and George Scott.[11]

Blind Boys of Alabama's version of Tom Waits' "Way Down in the Hole" featured on Spirit of the Century, also became the theme song for the first year of the acclaimed HBO series The Wire, and its song "Soldier" was featured in the 2002 film The Fighting Temptations, featuring Beyonce and Cuba Gooding Jr.

Blind Boys of Alabama enjoyed further acclaim and another Grammy with 2002's soul music-influenced Higher Ground (Real World), which was also produced by the Chelew/Goldsmith team, and included songs written by Prince, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield and Ben Harper (who also appeared on the album lending vocals and guitar). Robert Randolph and his Family Band served as the backing musicians on the album. The song "I Shall Not Walk Alone" from the album was featured in the first season of the TV series Lost in the episode "Confidence Man".[12]

That same year, Blind Boys of Alabama, who at the time consisted of Clarence Fountain, George Scott, Jimmy Carter, Joey Williams, Eric McKinnie, Bobby Butler and Tracy Pierce, was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. They also won a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association for Best Traditional Gospel Album.

In 2003, Blind Boys of Alabama released a Christmas album, Go Tell It on the Mountain. Again the production was credited to Chelew and Goldsmith, and again the album scored a Grammy – the band's third in a row. The album featured an eclectic collection of guests including Tom Waits, Solomon Burke, Michael Franti, Chrissie Hynde, Aaron Neville, Shelby Lynne, George Clinton, Mavis Staples and Les McCann.

The release of this Christmas album was followed in 2004 by a DVD documenting Blind Boys of Alabama concert at New York’s Beacon Theater in December 2003. Go Tell It On the Mountain: Live in New York highlights special guests at the show, including Aaron Neville, Mavis Staples, Chrissie Hynde, John Medeski, Robert Randolph, and Michael Franti. A portion of the proceeds from Go Tell It On the Mountain was donated to the American Diabetes Association, for whom Blind Boys of Alabama became spokesmen in 2003.[9]

In 2004, Blind Boys of Alabama collaborated with Ben Harper on the album There Will Be a Light (Virgin). Harper produced the album, with Chris Goldsmith again serving as executive producer. Harper described the record as "a spiritual soul movement". There Will Be a Light was nominated for three Grammys that year and won two, including Blind Boys' fourth consecutive win for Traditional Soul Gospel Album. The record was also the first Blind Boys of Alabama album to break into the Billboard Top 100.[9][13]

In 2005, Blind Boys of Alabama released what was arguably the most adventurous album of their discography thus far. Produced by John Chelew, "Atom Bomb" is unmistakably traditional gospel, yet it featured pop influences, rap, and roaring blues riffs. The record includes a gospel version of the Fatboy Slim/Macy Gray tune "Demons," featuring rapper Gift of Gab from Blackalicious. Musicians also featured on "Atom Bomb": Los Lobos guitarist David Hidalgo, Blues harp icon Charlie Musselwhite, and the legendary Billy Preston on keyboard.[14]

In May 2005, Dan Rather presented Blind Boys of Alabama with The American Foundation for the Blind's distinguished Helen Keller Personal Achievement Award, presented to individuals and organizations that have improved the quality of life for people who are blind, visually impaired or disabled. Past recipients include Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Jose Feliciano.[15]

In May 2005, Her Majesty, Queen Noor of Jordan presented Blind Boys of Alabama with the First Niarchos Prize for Survivorship, which was their second prestigious award. The Landmine Survivors Network awards this prize to an artist whose life work promotes resiliency and recovery.

Also in 2005, Blind Boys of Alabama was featured on the Grammy telecast alongside Kanye West, John Legend, and Mavis Staples.[15]

In March 2006, the group's baritone singer George Scott died at age 75.

In January 2008, Blind Boys of Alabama released Down In New Orleans on the Time Life record label. Produced by Chris Goldsmith, the album featured New Orleans-style music and included guests Allen Toussaint, The Hot 8 Brass Band, and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

The Blind Boys of Alabama performing at the Quebec City Summer Festival in July 2008

In 2009 the band released the Live in New Orleans DVD featuring their sold-out performance in the Crescent City’s iconic club Tipitina’s with special guests that included Susan Tedeschi and New Orleans pianist Henry Butler.[16] Also in 2009, Blind Boys also won their fifth Grammy for best Traditional Soul Gospel Album for Down in New Orleans. They were also given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for their long history of influential recorded work.[17][18]

Blind Boys of Alabama were featured artists in Soundtrack for a Revolution, a documentary released in 2009. The film tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its powerful music. The group members felt a strong connection to this project because of their roots in the strongly segregated South.[19]

In October 2009, Blind Boys of Alabama released the album Duets (Time Life), a special anthology featuring 14 unique collaborations. This album documented the rich, eclectic and cohesive interactions between the Blind Boys and popular artists. The music on Duets ranges from rock to reggae, country to contemporary Christian, and blues to ballads, all unified by the Blind Boys’ deep, soulful harmonizing. Most of the tracks were previously released, but the album also featured unreleased tracks with guest artists Lou Reed, John Hammond and Toots Hibbert – as well as a new song with Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles that was released on his album simultaneously. The album includes previously released performances with Ben Harper, Randy Travis, Bonnie Raitt, Solomon Burke, Susan Tedeschi, Jars of Clay, Charlie Musselwhite, Asleep At The Wheel, and Dan Zanes. In January 2010, Blind Boys of Alabama and Lou Reed appeared together on Late Night with David Letterman. They performed the song "Jesus", which was written by Lou Reed and originally appeared on an early Velvet Underground album.[20][21]

2010s: Broad appeal

July 2010, Blind Boys of Alabama was asked to curate and perform at a three-night concert series at the Lincoln Center Festival which featured performances from numerous musicians across several genres. Special guests included Yo La Tengo, Ralph Stanley, Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket, Yonder Mountain String Band, Ray Benson, Jason Roberts of Asleep at the Wheel, Aaron Neville, Joan Osborne, Hot 8 Brass Band, Dan Zanes, John Hammond, Charlie Musselwhite, and more.[22]

In February 2010, Blind Boys of Alabama were a part of the concert series In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music From the Civil Rights Movement. Hosted by President and Mrs. Obama, the event included performances by Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, John Mellencamp, Natalie Cole, and Smokey Robinson. 2010 was not the Blind Boys’ first visit to the White House. The gospel group was invited by President Clinton in 1994 and President Bush in 2002.[23]

Later that year, Blind Boys of Alabama met fellow Alabaman Jamey Johnson at the Alabama Music Hall Of Fame induction ceremony. Jimmy Carter had always been a fan of country music, so the Blind Boys asked Johnson to help produce a country-gospel album. In May 2011, Blind Boys of Alabama released Take The High Road (Saguaro Road), co-produced by Johnson, Chris Goldsmith, Kevin ‘Swine’ Grantt and Chad Cromwell. The album featured collaborations with prominent country artists Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., Lee Ann Womack, Jamey Johnson and The Oak Ridge Boys.[24]

Blind Boys of Alabama had a cameo in the 2011 film Hop as themselves, creating a video game soundtrack for the fictional game Extreme Blues Master.

In January 2012, Blind Boys of Alabama were featured as part of Preservation Hall Jazz Band's 50th Anniversary performance at Carnegie Hall along with artists Trombone Shorty and Allen Toussaint.[15]

Dr. John invited Blind Boys of Alabama to join him onstage at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Howard Gilman Opera House for “Insides Out: A Louis Armstrong Tribute Concert” in March 2012. Backed up by several New Orleans-based instrumentalists, the Blind Boys of Alabama helped begin and end the March 29th show with powerful versions of "What a Wonderful World" and "When the Saints Go Marching In".

In April 2012, the group helped celebrate Amnesty International's 50 years of fighting for freedom and human rights, by joining more than 50 artists from around the world to collaborate on the tune "Toast To Freedom." The song was produced by Bob Clearmountain, recorded at the late Levon Helm's studios, and includes artists such as Keb Mo, Carly Simon, Kris Kristofferson, Levon Helm, Roseanne Cash, Taj Mahal, Warren Haynes and others.

A testament to Blind Boys of Alabama’s transition to a high-profile mainstream act is the many television appearances they have made over the past decade. Blind Boys of Alabama reached a much broader audience by appearing on 60 Minutes II, Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Today Show, CBS Saturday Morning and Austin City Limits.[15] They performed live on The Colbert Report in November 2013.

Blind Boys of Alabama performed at the sold-out Warren Haynes 23rd annual Christmas Jam, Asheville Civic Center.[25]

Blind Boys of Alabama performed Spiritual To Funk tour with Dr. John in the fall of 2012.[26]

The group performed at London's famed Royal Albert Hall in 2012 as part of a show sponsored by the BBC.[27]

In March 2013, Blind Boys of Alabama were featured as part of an all-star lineup of artists paying tribute to the songs of Prince (musician) at a benefit concert at Carnegie Hall. The concert also featured Elvis Costello, D'Angelo, and The Roots, who served as the house band for the night.[28]

On September 30, 2013,[29] the Blind Boys of Alabama released their new album "I'll Find A Way" on Sony Masterworks records.[30] The album featured guest artists including Patty Griffin, Sam Amidon, Casey Dienel of White Hinterland, Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond, and Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs, as well as Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, who produced the album and sang on a cover of Bob Dylan's "Every Grain of Sand".

Awards and honors

Current members

Founding members

Past members

Discography

Contributions

Collaborations

Musical artists the Blind Boys of Alabama have collaborated with include:

Solomon Burke, Tom Waits, Michael Franti, Chrissie Hynde, Richard Thompson, Aaron Neville, Mavis Staples, Shelby Lynne, Meshell Ndegeocello, Danny Thompson, Duke Robillard, Michael Jerome, George Clinton, Robert Randolph, Les McCann, David Hidalgo, Charlie Musselwhite, Gift of Gab from Blackalicious, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., Vince Gill, Leann Womack, Oak Ridge Boys, Jamey Johnson, Ben Harper, Susan Tedeschi, Toots Hibbert, Randy Travis, Timothy B. Schmit, Bonnie Raitt, Jars of Clay, Dan Zanes, Lou Reed, Marva Wright, Asleep At The Wheel, John Hammond, Allen Toussaint, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Hot 8 Brass Band, Bennie Pete of the Hot 8 Brass Band, Carl LeBlanc of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Billy Preston, Tom Petty, Peter Gabriel, Prince, The Time Jumpers, K.D. Lang, Dr. John, Henry Butler, Joan Osborne, Third Day, Yo La Tengo, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Yonder Mountain String Band, Ray Benson

Grammy Awards

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Biography - Blind Boys of Alabama". Blind Boys of Alabama. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Levintova, Hannah (November 21, 2011). "2-Stepping With the Blind Boys of Alabama". Mother Jones. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Clarence Fountain (Blind Boys of Alabama)". Swampland. 2002-09-03. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  4. ↑ Charles Kenneth Roberts. "Blind Boys of Alabama". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  5. ↑ "The Blind Boys of Alabama | Biography, Albums, & Streaming Radio". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  6. ↑ "The Blind Boys of Alabama: No Retirement in Sight!". Southernedition.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  7. ↑ "The Blind Boys of Alabama-The Lionel Hampton School of Music-University of Idaho". Uidaho.edu. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  8. ↑ Lee Hildebrand (2008-06-29). "Blind Boys of Alabama battling - SFGate". Articles.sfgate.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  9. 1 2 3 "The Blind Boys Of Alabama » Real World Records - World music label". Real World Records. 2013-09-19. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  10. ↑ Varga, George (2009-02-08). "For Goldsmith, blind faith in Blind Boys paid off | SanDiegoUnionTribune.com". Utsandiego.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  11. ↑ "The Blind Boys Of Alabama". CBS News. 2002-10-21. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  12. ↑ Odell, Therese (August 8, 2007). "Sawyer takes the money and runs. Sometimes.". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Ben Harper/Blind Boys Of Alabama - There Will Be A Light". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  14. ↑ "World music label". Real World Records. 2013-09-19. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Blind Boys of Alabama". Rosebudus.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  16. ↑ Archived January 8, 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ↑ "Complete list of Grammy winners | News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | WPBN". Upnorthlive.com. 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  18. ↑ "The Blind Boys Of Alabama: Seven decades of gospel and still going strong - Blind Boys Of Alabama". Crossrhythms.co.uk. 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  19. ↑ "Soundtrack For A Revolution". Soundtrackforarevolutionfilm.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  20. ↑ "Music Review: The Blind Boys of Alabama – Duets". Blogcritics. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  21. ↑ Freer, Mark (2011-07-20). "Bluesman: "Jesus" - Blind Boys of Alabama with Lou Reed on David Letterman". Marksgottheblues.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  22. ↑ "Blind Boys of Alabama touring, curated three shows at the Lincoln Center with many guests". Brooklynvegan.com. 2010-04-12. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  23. ↑ "Blind Boys of Alabama & Bob Dylan To Play White House Concert on JamBase". Jambase.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  24. ↑ "The Blind Boys of Alabama to Release Gospel Country Album". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  25. ↑ Archived December 19, 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ↑ Finn, Timothy (October 22, 2013). "Dr. John, Blind Boys of Alabama deliver a transcendent show". Kansas City Entertainment.
  27. ↑ Cannon, Adam (August 28, 2012). "Proms 2012: Prom 58: Family Prom, review". The Telegraph (London).
  28. ↑ Pareles, Jon (March 8, 2013). "For a Night, at Least, Nothing Compares to Prince ‘The Music of Prince’ Tribute at Carnegie Hall". The New York Times.
  29. ↑ "Blind Boys of Alabama - I'll Find A Way". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  30. ↑ "Blind Boys of Alabama Team With Bon Iver's Justin Vernon on 'I'll Find a Way'". Billboard. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  31. ↑ Jurek, Thom. The Blind Boys of Alabama: I'll Find a Way at AllMusic. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Songs From A Stolen Spring". Valley Entertainment. Retrieved 14 November 2014.

References

External links

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