The Blind Boys of Alabama - History - 2000s: The Grammy Era

2000s: The Grammy Era

At the turn of the 21st century, The Blind Boys began working on the album Spirit of the Century, which was the brainchild of their long-time booking agent Chris Goldsmith. Goldsmith was credited as executive producer on the album and John Chelew was the producer, a partnership that went on to produce several more albums for The Blind Boys.

Spirit of the Century was The Blind Boys' most critically acclaimed and commercially successful album to date. The album is a blend of gospel, blues, soul and folk and won the 2001 Grammy award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album. Several guest musicians were featured alongside The Blind Boys on this record, including multi-instrumentalist David Lindley, blues guitarist John Hammond, contra bassist Danny Thompson and harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite.

The album was released on Peter Gabriel’s label Real World Records. The Blind Boys’ relationship with Peter Gabriel was also a stepping stone to their appearance on his 2002 album Up and they subsequently opened for Gabriel on the Growing Up worldwide arena tour.

The CBS series 60 Minutes II filmed a documentary segment featuring The Blind Boys of Alabama in 2002. Dan Rather told the story of The Blind Boys through an interview with the remaining founding members Clarence Fountain, Jimmy Carter, and George Scott.

The Blind Boys' version of Tom Waits' "Way Down in the Hole" featured on Spirit of the Century, also became the theme song for the first year of the acclaimed HBO series The Wire, and their song "Soldier" was featured in the 2002 film The Fighting Temptations, featuring Beyonce and Cuba Gooding Jr.

The Blind Boys enjoyed further acclaim and another Grammy with 2002's soul music-influenced Higher Ground (Real World), which was also produced by the Chelew/Goldsmith team, and included songs written by Prince, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield and Ben Harper (who also appeared on the album lending vocals and guitar). Robert Randolph and his Family Band served as the backing musicians on the album. The song "I Shall Not Walk Alone" from the album was featured in the first season of the TV series Lost in the episode "Confidence Man".

That same year, The Blind Boys, who at this time consisted of Clarence Fountain, George Scott, Jimmy Carter, Joey Williams, Eric McKinnie, Bobby Butler and Tracy Pierce, were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. They also won a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association for Best Traditional Gospel Album.

In 2003, The Blind Boys released a Christmas album, Go Tell It on the Mountain (Real World). Again the production was credited to Chelew and Goldsmith, and again the album scored a Grammy – the band's third in a row. The album featured an eclectic collection of guests including Tom Waits, Solomon Burke, Michael Franti, Chrissie Hynde, Aaron Neville, Shelby Lynne, George Clinton, Mavis Staples and Les McCann.

The release of this Christmas album was followed in 2004 by a DVD documenting The Blind Boys concert at New York’s Beacon Theater in December 2003. Go Tell It On the Mountain: Live in New York highlights special guests at the show, including Aaron Neville, Mavis Staples, Chrissie Hynde, John Medeski, Robert Randolph, and Michael Franti. A portion of the proceeds from Go Tell It On the Mountain were donated to the American Diabetes Association, for whom The Blind Boys became spokesmen in 2003.

In 2004, The Blind Boys of Alabama collaborated with Ben Harper on the album There Will Be a Light (Virgin). Harper produced the album, with Chris Goldsmith again serving as executive producer. Harper described the record as "a spiritual soul movement". There Will Be a Light was nominated for three Grammys that year and won two, including The Blind Boys' fourth consecutive win for Traditional Soul Gospel Album. The record was also the first Blind Boys album to break into the Billboard Top 100.

In 2005, The Blind Boys released what was arguably the most adventurous album of their discography thus far. Produced by John Chelew, Atom Bomb is unmistakably traditional gospel, yet it featured pop influences, rap, and roaring blues riffs. The record includes a gospel version of the Fatboy Slim/Macy Gray tune "Demons," featuring rapper Gift of Gab from Blackalicious. Musicians also featured on Atom Bomb: Los Lobos guitarist David Hidalgo, Blues harp icon Charlie Musselwhite, and the legendary Billy Preston on keyboard.

In May 2005, Dan Rather presented The Blind Boys of Alabama with The American Foundation for the Blind's distinguished Helen Keller Personal Achievement Award, presented to individuals and organizations that have improved the quality of life for people who are blind, visually impaired or disabled. Past recipients include Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Jose Feliciano.

The Blind Boys were presented with a second prestigious award in May 2005. Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan presented The Blind Boys with the First Niarchos Prize for Survivorship. The Landmine Survivors Network awards this prize to an artist whose life work promotes resiliency and recovery.

Also in 2005, The Blind Boys were featured on the Grammy telecast alongside Kanye West, John Legend, and Mavis Staples.

In March 2006, the group's baritone singer George Scott passed away at age 75.

In January of 2008, The Blind Boys of Alabama released Down In New Orleans on the Time Life record label. Produced by Chris Goldsmith, the album featured New Orleans-style music and included guests Allen Toussaint, The Hot 8 Brass Band, and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

In 2009 the band released the Live in New Orleans DVD featuring their sold-out performance in the Crescent City’s iconic club Tipitina’s with special guests that included Susan Tedeschi and New Orleans pianist Henry Butler. Also in 2009, The Blind Boys also won their fifth Grammy for best Traditional Soul Gospel Album for Down in New Orleans. They were also given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for their long history of influential recorded work.

The Blind Boys of Alabama were featured artists in Soundtrack for a Revolution, a documentary released in 2009. The film tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its powerful music. The members of The Blind Boys felt a strong connection to this project because of their roots in the strongly segregated South.

In October of 2009, The Blind Boys released the album Duets (Time Life), a special anthology featuring 14 unique collaborations. This album documented the rich, eclectic and cohesive interactions between the Blind Boys and popular artists. The music on Duets ranges from rock to reggae, country to contemporary Christian, and blues to ballads, all unified by the Blind Boys’ deep, soulful harmonizing. Most of the tracks were previously released, but the album also featured unreleased tracks with guest artists Lou Reed, John Hammond and Toots Hibbert – as well as a new song with Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles that was released on his album simultaneously. The album includes previously released performances with Ben Harper, Randy Travis, Bonnie Raitt, Solomon Burke, Susan Tedeschi, Jars of Clay, Charlie Musselwhite, Asleep At The Wheel, and Dan Zanes. In January 2010, The Blind Boys of Alabama and Lou Reed appeared together on Late Night with David Letterman. They performed the song "Jesus", which was written by Lou Reed and originally appeared on an early Velvet Underground album.

The Blind Boys of Alabama were asked to curate and perform at a three-night concert series in July 2010 at the Lincoln Center Festival. The series featured performances from numerous musicians across several genres. Special guests included Yo La Tengo, Ralph Stanley, Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket, Yonder Mountain String Band, Ray Benson, Jason Roberts of Asleep at the Wheel, Aaron Neville, Joan Osborne, Hot 8 Brass Band, Dan Zanes, John Hammond, Charlie Musselwhite, and more.

In February of 2010, The Blind Boys of Alabama were a part of the concert series In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music From the Civil Rights Movement. Hosted by President and Mrs. Obama, the event included performances by Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, John Mellencamp, Natalie Cole, and Smokey Robinson. 2010 was not the Blind Boys’ first visit to the White House. The gospel group was invited by President Clinton in 1994 and President Bush in 2002.

Later that year, The Blind Boys met fellow Alabaman Jamey Johnson at the Alabama Music Hall Of Fame induction ceremony. Jimmy Carter had always been a fan of country music, so the Blind Boys asked Johnson to help produce a country-gospel album. In May of 2011, The Blind Boys released Take The High Road (Saguaro Road), co-produced by Johnson, Chris Goldsmith, Kevin ‘Swine’ Grantt and Chad Cromwell. The album featured collaborations with prominent country artists Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., Lee Ann Womack, Jamey Johnson and The Oak Ridge Boys.

In January 2012, The Blind Boys were featured as part of Preservation Hall Jazz Band's 50th Anniversary performance at Carnegie Hall along with artists Trombone Shorty and Allen Toussaint.

Dr. John invited the Blind Boys to join him onstage at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Howard Gilman Opera House for “Insides Out: A Louis Armstrong Tribute Concert” in March 2012. Backed up by several New Orleans-based instrumentalists, the Blind Boys of Alabama helped begin and end the March 29th show with powerful versions of "What a Wonderful World" and "When the Saints Go Marching In". In April 2012, the group helped celebrate Amnesty International's 50 years of fighting for freedom and human rights, by joining more than 50 artists from around the world to collaborate on the tune "Toast To Freedom." The song was produced by Bob Clearmountain, recorded at the late Levon Helm's studios, and includes artists such as Keb Mo, Carly Simon, Kris Kristofferson, Levon Helm, Roseanne Cash, Taj Mahal, Warren Haynes and others.

A testament to The Blind Boys of Alabama’s transition to a high-profile mainstream act is the many television appearances they made in this decade. The Blind Boys reached a much broader audience by appearing on 60 Minutes II, Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Today Show, CBS Saturday Morning and Austin City Limits.

Performed at the sold-out Warren Haynes 23rd annual Christmas Jam, Asheville Civic Center.

Performed Spiritual To Funk tour with Dr. John Fall of 2012.

The Blind Boys of Alabama performed at London's famed Royal Albert Hall in 2012 as part of a show sponsored by the BBC.

The Blind Boys were recently featured as part of an all-star lineup of artists paying tribute to the songs of Prince at a benefit concert at Carnegie Hall. The concert also featured Elvis Costello, D'Angelo, and The Roots, who served as the house band for the night.