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Genre : Gospel
Latest Release : Go Tell It On The Mountain
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The Five Blind Boys Of Alabama
Evolving out of the Happyland Jubilee Singers, this traditional black gospel quartet was formed in 1937 at the Talladega Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Alabama. By the '40s they became "The Blind Boys" and recorded for Specialty, Vee Jay, Savoy, Elektra, and other labels. Their first hit was "I Can See Everybody's Mother but Mine" in 1949. Current lineup: Joe Watson, Jimmy Carter, Sam and Bobby Butler, Curtis Foster, Johnny Fields, and Clarence Fountain. They appeared on Broadway in Gospel at Colonus, but gained much more fame during the late '90s and early '00s while recording for Peter Gabriel's Real World label a series of albums beginning with the collaboration-heavy Spirit of the Century. The group also appeared on Gabriel's 2002 album Up.
From the group's beginnings in the 1930's, as fellow students at the Talladega Institute for the Deaf and Blind, in Alabama, to the present, The Five Blind Boys of Alabama had one goal. According to founding member Clarence Fountain, "We just wanted to sing gospel. We wanted to be popular too, but we wanted to sing gospel."
Fountain and his friends (the original group consisted of Fountain, Johnny Fields, JT Hutton, Ollice Thomas, George Scott and the late Velma B. Traylor) adopted the style of gospel singing known as jubilee and took their show to the road.
They turned the fact that all but one member of The Blind Boys of Alabama was, in fact, visually impaired, into a huge selling point. "We had an advantage over all of the rest of the gospel groups," says Fountain, "because you hardly ever see a bunch of blind guys on stage in concert. That was an exciting time!"
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Artist Biography - The Five Blind Boys Of Alabama
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 The group began recording in 1948, and has released albums regularly since then. The Blind Boys had gospel hits with "Oh, Lord Stand by Me" and "I Can See Everybody's Mother But I Can't See Mine" in the 50's. They didn't taste mainstream success until 1988, when they starred in the Obie Award winning Broadway musical, "Gospel at Colonus." This was the highest point they ever had. They took the play to Broadway and stayed there 15 weeks.
That exposure opened new avenues for The Blind Boys of Alabama, and brought them a wider audience. When they toured, they played bigger, more mainstream venues. In 1994, the group was awarded the NEA National Heritage Fellowship, presented by First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Following this Broadway hit, they were able to go out and sing to the masses.
And sing they did, performing on the bill of such high profile festivals as the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the King Biscuit Blues Festival, the Beale Street Music Festival and more. In addition, The Blind Boys of Alabama were featured on the BET series, "On Jazz." They have even been seen on "Beverly Hills 90210."
That year also brought the group's debut on House of Blues Music Company. A live album, "I Brought Him with Me," showcased the group's ability to musically change with the times, while remaining true to their basic style!
The phenomenal popularity of the Blind Boys of Alabama stems from intense, invigorating vocals, seemingly effortless harmonies, and a gritty, revival-style spirituality that would move even a confirmed pagan. Their repertoire gets the full gospel treatment, and they turn even Pete Seeger's folk standard, "If I Had a Hammer," into a scorching pledge of redemption.
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For more information , enjoy the official homepage of The Five Blind Boys of Alabama
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