Since 1939, the Blind Boys of Alabama have sung a fervent blend of traditional and contemporary gospel music. Much has changed during these seven prolific decades. Stylistic phases have waxed and waned; personnel has come and gone. Seventy-eight rpm records have given way to LPs, followed by eight-track tapes, cassettes and CDs. The Blind Boys’ audience—once rigidly segregated and confined to traditional gospel venues—now reflects the group’s eclectic, global following, while their repertoire has expanded to embrace secular songs with a strongly spiritual message. Such wide acceptance is also evidenced by five Grammy awards, an honor that didn’t exist when the Blind Boys started out, and a Lifetime Achievement award at the 2009 Grammy ceremonies. Singer Jimmy Carter, who was there when the group was first formed, leads the band today with the firm conviction, joyous commitment, and gravitas that befit an elder statesman.
