Being born poor, black, and blind in the rural Birmingham, Ala. of the 1930s wasn’t an easy way to start out life. For the Blind Boys of Alabama, however, these circumstances translated into 70 years dedicated to singing contemporary gospel music. The group’s story began when five of the original singers (all about 7 years old and all blind) arrived at the Talladega Institute for the Negro Deaf and Blind.
Blind Boys of Alabama Form
Today the group’s last active, original member, Jimmy Carter, can recall how the boys adhered to the Institute’s rules—learning to read Braille and tackling traditional trades such as broom-, chair- and shelf-making. But the boys broke free from the structure of learning during rehearsals with the large school choir and, at the age of 14, they took their singing talent on the road. The Blind Boys of Alabama were eventually embraced as gospel stars and are still making music today.
Blind Boys' Genre Evolves
When they’re on stage, it’s easy to forget that the three main vocalists of the group and their drummer/percussionist are all blind. Until you see them, as the Guardian pointed out, walking “in crocodile formation, one hand on the shoulder of the brother in front.”
The group has seen a lot of change in the world at large and in the music business during their tenure on the gospel circuit. As the music industry evolved and moved toward pop and rock, the Blind Boys’ commitment to gospel remained steadfast, even if it often warded off fame and fortune. In the face of shrinking audiences, however, eventually they did begin to experiment.
Blind Boys Collaborate
They've recorded moving renditions of songs from the likes of Tom Waits and Prince while maintaining their loyalty to the traditional material that launched their career. The Blind Boys have appeared as guests on record and on stage with an equally diverse array of artists, from Peter Gabriel to Ben Harper.
“During this amazing run, the cover tunes and collaborations have been consistently tasty and organic, seasoned with a time-tested understanding of the sounds that move man's soul,” according to the website dedicated to the group.
Now their eclectic, worldwide following enjoys secular music with a positive message. They’ve recorded more than 50 albums. The group that was once confined strictly to gospel music venues in the South played "The Gospel at Colonus" on Broadway in 1983 and has won four straight Grammys for traditional gospel groups. That’s a long, far road away from their starting place at a school for the blind in Alabama.
Blind Boys Gives Back
The Blind Boys also recently headlined a gala night homecoming celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Institute where the group began. Carter, whose tenor voice reveals only the minimal wear of decades on stage, said it was good to go back.
"It made me what I am today," said Carter, speaking during an interview at his home in Montgomery before the show. "When the blind children wanted an education, that's where they came. That's how I met with the other singers."
