Nearly 70 years ago in Talladega, Alabama, at a racially segregated school for the blind (ponder that one), a gospel group called the Blind Boys of Alabama got together. With a few changes in personnel, the Blind Boys have been singing ever since.But only in the 21st Century have they gained a broad fame... racking up Grammy Awards, appearing on “The Tonight Show” and Conan, and having their version of Tom Waits’s “Way Down in the Hole” used as the theme song for “The Wire” (Season One).
A new album from the Blind Boys of Alabama – “Down in New Orleans” – was released two weeks ago. It features guest musicians from the Crescent City, including Allen Toussaint and the Hot 8 Brass Band.
A track from that album, “Free At Last,” is available as a FREE MP3. Follow this link to Download.com if you want to cop.
To hear “Free At Last” streaming on my Vox blog, click here.
3 comments:
Thank you.
UBM, thanks for the article. They have lasted along time. I think groups with longevity as the Blind Boys Of Alabama is a testimony of their faith. Thanks for the link.
^ I was hoping you would like that one, JJ.
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