The Blind Boys of Alabama sing true-to-roots, traditional gospel music. In fact, The Blind Boys are themselves an iconic pillar of gospel music that towers over other groups in their adherence to gospel tradition as well as in sheer experience, having first banded together in 1939. In the decades that follow their inception, The Blind Boys’ core lineup – made up of seven members, including three blind singers – consistently delivers an unwavering dedication to performing spiritually uplifting music.
Although the band recorded their first single in 1948, “I Can See Everybody’s Mother But Mine”, The Blind Boys didn’t garner mainstream attention until the 1980s. This success is much due to the group’s collective role as Oedipus in the broadway play, The Gospel at Colonus, a gospel-driven retelling of the original Sophocles tragedy. Of course, the continuous release of first-rate albums and impressive collaborations didn’t hinder the Boys from cementing themselves as one of America’s greatest gospel achievements. Don’t hesitate to listen to the latest from the legendary Blind Boys, I’ll Find a Way, produced by Justin Vernon – a.k.a. Bon Iver!
The Blind Boys of Alabama came by Studio 1A this Thursday, October 10 for a special performance, which you can hear right here. You can then catch The Blind Boys this Friday as they play their second weekend at ACL 2013! But wait, there’s also one last chance to see the Boys in Austin this month as they play Saturday, October 12 at Stubb’s!
