NOVEMBER 2010: The Blind Boys of Alabama Featured on Third Day's "Lift Up Your Face" Single
The Blind Boys of Alabama are featured on Third Day's "Lift Up Your Face," the single from their latest album, Move. The singer for the multi-Platinum Christian rockers, Mac Powell, explains: "The country is going through hard times, and there are doubts and insecurity, 'Lift Up Your Face' is our message of encouragement - not just to listeners though - to us as well. It's a message we all need to hear..." Check out the song here.
OCTOBER 2010: The Blind Boys of Alabama Sing for President Jimmy Carter
The Blind Boys of Alabama performed October 4th at a World Habitat Day Gala in Washington, DC honoring President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, for 27 years of service to Habitat for Humanity. This of course lead to a historic collaboration between President Jimmy Carter and The Blind Boys' own Jimmy Carter when the former President joined the Blind Boys on stage during their performance of "If I Had a Hammer". The event, titled Thanks a Million! A gala salute to the life and service of our most famous volunteers Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, raised $1 million toward launching a Habitat fund recognizing the Carters' commitment. World Habitat Day is the first Monday in October, a day set aside by the United Nations to call attention to the need for affordable housing worldwide. Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the world planned more than 300 events to call attention to the day this year.
MAY 2010: The Blind Boys of Alabama Curate 3 Nights At Lincoln Center In July - Featured On House of Blues Radio Hour May 22-23, 2010
Five-time GRAMMY Winners and White House guests of the last three Presidents, The Blind Boys of Alabama are curating, hosting and performing three nights at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall on July 12, 14, 16, 2010. The first evening features collaborations with rock artists Yo La Tengo,
Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket, Lambchop and Exene Cervenka as well as with the avant-jazz of Marshall Allen and the Sun Ra Horns. The second show focuses on the intersection of soul, gospel, and country music, featuring Dr. Ralph Stanley, Randy Travis, The Yonder Mountain String Band, Ray Benson and Jason Roberts of Asleep at the Wheel, and Allison Moorer. The final evening is a Family Revival, featuring Aaron Neville, Joan Osborne, Dan Zanes, Hot 8 Brass Band and fellow Rosebud artists Charlie MusselwhiteandJohn Hammond. This show will feature songs from all of The Blind Boys' GRAMMY Award-winning albums.
The Blind Boys will be featured on The House of Blues Radio Hour over May 22-23, 2010. Elwood Blues (aka Dan Aykroyd) will interview Jimmy Carter from the group and feature their music. Catch The Blind Boys live, please see Tour Dates >>
APRIL 2010: The Blind Boys of Alabama Inducted Into Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Five-time GRAMMY Winners and recent White House guests, The Blind Boys of Alabama were inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame on March 25, 2010 in Montgomery, Alabama. They performed their stirring rendition of "Down By The Riverside" with country singer Jamey Johnson, a Country Music Association Award and Academy of Country Music Award Winner.
The Blind Boys will be performing at the upcoming New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival . Also among upcoming shows, they will play at Australia's Sydney Opera House in June for the Vivid Festival, curated by Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson. The Blind Boys recently played with Lou Reed on the Late Show with David Letterman, performing the Velvet Underground classic "Jesus", a featured highlight on the Blind Boys' latest album Duets.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
FEBRUARY 2010: The Blind Boys of Alabama Featured In White House Performance For PBS Special
The Blind Boys of Alabama were featured performers at the White House on February 9th, 2010, which was taped for broadcast on PBS, premiering February 11. The event, In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement, was hosted by President and Mrs. Obama in honor of Black History Month with MC Morgan Freeman. The Blind Boys led the room of dignitaries in a rousing version of "Free at Last," eventually joined on stage by the other performers and President Obama. The other artists performing included Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, The Freedom Singers, John Mellencamp, Smokey Robinson, Natalie Cole, Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adams and the Howard University Choir. The evening featured songs from the Civil Rights Movement, as well as readings from famous Civil Rights speeches and writings. The event will be broadcast on PBS stations nationwide (please check your local listings). NPR is producing a one-hour concert special from this event for broadcast nationwide on NPR stations throughout the month of February, beginning February 12.
"The Blind Boys of Alabama gave one of the night's most fiery performances on the old spiritual I'm Free at Last." - USA Today
Congratulations to The Blind Boys on this honor! They will be performing throughout the Winter and please see Tour Dates >>
JANUARY 2010:The Blind Boys of Alabama On Letterman With Lou Reed January 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama will make their third appearance on Late Show with David Letterman on Thursday, January 21. They will be joined by Lou Reed, performing the Velvet Underground classic "Jesus", currently a featured highlight on the Blind Boys' new Duets album. The album is a critically-acclaimed collection of collaborations that features the Blind Boys performing with Reed, fellow Rosebud artists John Hammond and Charlie Musselwhite, Bonnie Raitt, Ben Harper and many more. Although Lou Reed has recorded with the Blind Boys twice and they performed together once before (at a private concert on the floor of the UN General Assembly in 2004 for the Landmine Survivors Network), this broadcast will mark their first joint television appearance. The five-time GRAMMY winning Blind Boys have just returned from performing in China and will be on tour throughout the Winter, including Down by the Riverside dates featuring The Blind Boys of Alabama and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Please see Tour Dates >>
SEPTEMBER 2009: The Blind Boys of Alabama Release New CD, Duets, October 27, 2009
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 MusselwhiteandJohn 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.
MAY 2009: The Blind Boys of Alabama Featured In Documentary Screening At Cannes & Tribeca Film Festivals
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.
APRIL 2009: The Blind Boys of Alabama Winners Again With Two 2009 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards
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,
MARCH 2009: Mavis Staples, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Staple Singers and The Late John Lee Hooker Featured On Civil Rights Box Set
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.
FEBRUATY 2009: 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
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!
