The Blind Boys of Alabama have been together since 1939, and have still had less of a lineup change than most ten-year-old bands today.
The Blind Boys of Alabama have a career spanning eight decades, which is impressive enough. But add to the mix five Grammy awards as well as being awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and having been invited to the White House by three different presidents, and this is only scratching the surface of what they have accomplished.
They have just released Echoes of the South on Single Lock Records, their first album in six years. Despite their name, it is also the first record of theirs to be fully recorded in Alabama. The title of the album came from the name of the first radio program they appeared on back in 1944. They are currently on the road touring this new release and we caught their show at City Winery in New York City.
They brought their blend of gospel, blues, and soul to the city, and the audience lapped it up. Throughout the night, those in attendance fully participated in the festivities, singing on cue from the band, clapping and swaying, and giving The Blind Boys their full and undivided attention. It was like Sunday morning church was brought to the City Winery. Their music brought an air of positivity to the evening as smiles could be seen across the faces of all of those in attendance.
Each member of The Blind Boys had their moment in the spotlight as they took turns to take the reins for lead vocals. But it is collectively where they brought something very special to the table with their soulful harmonies.
March of next year will see the release of their book, Spirit of the Century: Our Own Story, which will discuss the lengthy history of the band. It goes back to when they first formed when they met at the institute for blind children in Talladega, Alabama, to becoming part of the soundtrack to the Civil Rights movement, and beyond.
This show was covered as part of our fundraising trip for National Independent Venue Foundation and Musicians On Call. We are traveling across the country and stopping at independently-owned music venues to cover a show and to chat with their owners about the importance of independent music venues within the music industry. New York City was our first stop of the trip and what better way to kick it off than with The Blind Boys of Alabama at such a beautiful music venue as City Winery NYC.You can read more about this fundraising trip here. If you would like to donate to NIVF, you can do so here, and if you would like to donate to Musicians On Call, you can do so here. All proceeds go directly to your chosen organization.
