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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. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
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 >> • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
The Blind Boys of Alabama will be featured on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on Friday, February 1 and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday, March 11. The 4 time Grammy winning gospel legends have just released their new CD, Down In New Orleans, and rave reviews are pouring in. Rolling Stone calls the new CD "A superweapon of roots-music uplift..." and The Washington Post describes it as "Inspired and relevant... borders on the miraculous." The Blind Boys of Alabama are beginning a world tour that will have them busy through 2008 and beyond. - see tour dates >> • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Rosebud artists Bettye LaVette and Mavis Staples scored spots in the top 35 of Village Voice's annual "Pazz & Jop Poll" for LaVette’s Scene Of The Crime and Staples’ We'll Never Turn Back. The annual poll combines ballots from 577 critics’ Top 10 lists to acknowledge the best albums of 2007. Additional Rosebud artists whose CDs were honored were Bill Frisell (for his work with Floratone and with Paul Motian and Joe Lovano) Loudon Wainwright III, Meshell Ndegeocello, Ruthie Foster, Pieta Brown, Ann Savoy and the late Muddy Waters. Compilations that featured Rosebud artists were Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur (Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars), Goin Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino (Allen Toussaint, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Trombone Shorty and Marcia Ball) and Song Of America (The Blind Boys of Alabama and Bettye LaVette). See the full list of albums at: Village Voice's annual "Pazz & Jop Poll" >> • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
The highly anticipated new CD from four-time Grammy winners and gospel Legends, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Down In New Orleans, will be released by Time Life Music on January 29. The CD marks the first time The Blind Boys have ever recorded in New Orleans and on it they are backed by a trio of world class New Orleans musicians: David Torkanowsky (piano), Roland Guerin (bass) and Shannon Powell (drums). Contributing to the New Orleans spirit that prevails throughout the new disc are such esteemed guests as Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and Rosebud client Allen Toussaint, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Hot 8 Brass Band. In support of their new disc, the Blind Boys will tour extensively throughout 2008 and beyond, including a Fall 2008 co-headline tour with Preservation Hall Jazz Band. see tour dates >> • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Song of America, a collection of culturally significant songs interpreted by contemporary artists, will be released September 18. This landmark 50 song, 3 CD set features recordings by Rosebud artists Bettye LaVette and The Blind Boys of Alabama, as well as John Mellencamp, The Black Crowes, Martha Wainwright, Devendra Banhart, The Del McCoury Band, Janis Ian, and Kim Richey. The compilation traces the history of our country through new versions of historically essential compositions. Proceeds from sales are to benefit The Center for American Music, National History Day, and Folk Alliance. Song of America (MySpace) >> • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • |
Prince Joins The Blind Boys of Alabama Onstage in Hollywood
Blind Boys Featured Guests On Late Night and The Tonight Show
Bettye LaVette, Mavis Staples And More Rosebud Artists Recognized In Village Voice Pazz & Jop Poll
Blind Boys of Alabama's, Down In New Orleans, Out January 29
Song of America, featuring tracks from Bettye LaVette and The Blind Boys of Alabama, out September 18