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Formed some six and a half decades ago, The Blind Boys of Alabama are the Iron Men of the music industry. They predate Elvis, Little Richard and Al Green yet even in their 70s they are still at the top of the gospel charts and have won an impressive four consecutive Grammy Awards (2001-2004).
In recent years, The Blind Boys have proven themselves masters of bringing out the most spiritual aspects of mainstream music, while at the same time bringing the music of the church straight to the roadhouse. In the past five years, they've recorded moving renditions of songs by everyone from Tom Waits to Prince side by side with their traditional material, and 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.
The Blind Boys of Alabama will release their new CD, Duets, on October 27, 2009. This special project features tracks that the Five-Time Grammy winners have recorded with high profile admirers Lou Reed, Bonnie Raitt, Ben Harper, Susan Tedeschi, Randy Travis, Solomon Burke, Marva Wright, Jars of Clay, Timothy B. Schmit (The Eagles), Asleep At The Wheel, Dan Zanes and Toots Hibbert (Toots & The Maytals) as well as with fellow Rosebud artists, Charlie Musselwhite and John Hammond. Of the 14 tracks on the compilation, four are from Grammy winning albums, three are from Grammy nominated discs and three songs have never before been released. See The Blind Boys of Alabama live on stage, including shows in Europe and Canada later in the Fall, please see Tour Dates>>
The Blind Boys of Alabama are featured in a new film, Soundtrack For A Revolution, that was shown at the prestigious Cannes and Tribeca Film Festivals. The film focuses on the civil rights movement, using updated renditions of the era's songs performed by musicians including The Blind Boys of Alabama, Angie Stone, Joss Stone, Wyclef Jean, Richie Havens, The Roots, John Legend and Harry Belafonte. Two-time Oscar and two-time Emmy Award winner Bill Guttentag and partner Dan Sturman wrote and directed the film. The Blind Boys of Alabama were honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement award and also won their 5th Grammy for their Down In New Orleans CD in February and they were just honored with two wins at the 2009 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. They continue to tour extensively worldwide, please see tour dates>>
Rosebud Artists could be found performing in a wide variety of formats during the 40th Annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (April 24 - May 3). Tipitina's also hosted an SRO performance by The Blind Boys of Alabama, joined by special guests The Dirty Dozen, Charlie Musselwhite and Henry Butler... read full story >>
The Blind Boys of Alabama have been honored with wins for each of their nominations in the 2009 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. They won Best Traditional Gospel Recorded Song for "Free At Last" and won Best Traditional Gospel Album for Down In New Orleans, marking their third win in this category since 2003. These wins follow The Blind Boys' 5th Grammy win as well as their 2009 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The 40th Annual Gospel Music Awards were held April 23, 2009 in Nashville and were broadcast live on the Gospel Music Channel. The Blind Boys continue to tour the globe in 2009, please see tour dates>>
Rosebud Artists, Mavis Staples, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Staple Singers and the late John Lee Hooker are featured in the recently released 3 CD set Let Freedom Sing! The Music of the Civil Rights Movement. Highlights include the songs "Free At Last" by The Blind Boys of Alabama, "Down In Mississippi" by Mavis Staples, "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)?" by The Staples Singers and "The Motor City Is Burning" by the late John Lee Hooker. The collection documents music important to the civil rights movement, released from 1939 up through today. "You get the heart, the soul, the sentiment and the struggle of a people," says Public Enemy's Chuck D, a consultant on the project, who also wrote the introduction for the liner notes. A companion documentary DVD originally broadcast on PBS will be released June 2, 2009. Please check the song tracks and video clips at: letfreedomsing.us and imeem.com/letfreedomsing
Grammy Congratulations to Allen Toussaint who was awarded the Grammy Trustees Award, performed on the live TV broadcast and was the featured public interviewee Thursday for the Grammys Legends series! Allen's song "Fortune Teller" is also featured on the Robert Plant / Allison Krauss Raising Sand CD - the big winner at the Grammys this year. The Blind Boys of Alabama were honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement award and also won their 5th Grammy for their Down In New Orleans CD. BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet were also Grammy winners for their Live CD from the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band joined Allen Toussaint and Lil Wayne on the Grammy telecast. Also nominated for Grammys were Marcia Ball, Bill Frisell and Michael Doucet for his solo CD. Trombone Shorty was featured on Dr. John's Grammy winning City That Care Forgot and James Burton, who performs in Jim Lauderdale's Dream Payers band, shared the Grammy for Best Country Instrumental for Cluster Pluck. In addition, the Grammys Louisiana luncheon featured appearances and performances from The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Allen Toussaint and Michael Doucet. Congratulations All!  The Blind Boys of Alabama Nominated for 2009 Stellar Award, Featured on Tavis Smiley Radio ShowNovember 2008, Rosebud News The Blind Boys of Alabama are nominated for a 2009 Stellar Award for Quartet of the Year. The 24th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards Show will be held, once again, at the historic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on January 17, 2009. This year's list of nominees includes stars from every genre of Gospel music including Traditional, Contemporary, Urban and Rap/Hip-Hop. The awards show will be co-hosted by comedian Sinbad and Dorinda Clark Cole. The Blind Boys were also invited to guest on the Tavis Smiley radio show during their recent California tour. Jimmy Carter & Ricky McKinnie represented the band on Tavis's show, with air dates to be announced soon. The Blind Boys of Alabama continue to tour extensively worldwide on their own and in the highly successful Down By The Riverside package with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band - please see tour dates >>  Prince Joins The Blind Boys of Alabama Onstage in HollywoodMarch 2008, Rosebud News Prince spontaneously joined The Blind Boys of Alabama this past Saturday at a showcase performance for their new Down In New Orleans CD at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood. Prince showed up unannounced while the Blind Boys were already onstage, asking to join in for a few songs. In fact, band leader Jimmy Carter was performing a song while walking through the audience when Prince jumped onstage and joined in on guitar for one song and on keyboard for a second song before leaving the club and a stunned audience. The Blind Boys of Alabama will be supporting their new CD with touring in North America and Europe throughout this year. ..see tour dates >>
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The Blind Boys of Alabama Release New CD, Duets, October 27, 2009
The Blind Boys of Alabama Featured In Documentary Screening At Cannes & Tribeca Film Festivals
Rosebud Artists Everywhere At New Orleans Jazz Fest
The Blind Boys of Alabama Winners Again With Two 2009 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards
Mavis Staples, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Staple Singers and The Late John Lee Hooker Featured On Civil Rights Box Set
Grammy Congratulations! Allen Toussaint, The Blind Boys of Alabama, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Marcia Ball, Bill Frisell, Trombone Shorty, and James Burton