Blind Boys Of Alabama
Feb 28, 2011
Grammy Award and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners The Blind Boys of Alabama will release a traditional country-gospel album for the first time in their 70-year career on May 3rd, 2011 on Saguaro Road Records.
Mercury Records artist Jamey Johnson, co-produced the album and performs on it along with Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., Lee Ann Womack, and The Oak Ridge Boys, and backed by some of Nashville's finest session musicians.
"There wasn't one person who didn't bawl like a baby or bust their heart open at least once,"Johnson recounted to the New York Timesrecently, remarking on the intensity of the recording sessions. "It's been a dream of mine to do a country gospel album and we couldn't have found a better partner than Jamey" said Jimmy Carter, the last original Blind Boy still touring with the band. "This album beautifully combines two of the seminal roots of the American music tree, gospel and country music. The Blind Boys, Jamey and their hand-picked guests deliver this music in a searingly authentic way," adds Mike Jason Senior Vice President, Retail for Saguaro Road Records
The concept for the project started with original Blind Boy Jimmy Carter's love of country music and his desire to do a traditional Country Gospel album. Last year, his idea started to take shape when the Blind Boys were asked to curate a series of shows at the prestigious Lincoln Center Festival. One of the sold-out nights featured country artists Ralph Stanley, Ray Benson (Asleep At The Wheel) and Allison Moorer. Soon after, they met Jamey Johnson and asked him to join them in singing the traditional song "Down By The Riverside" at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Their mutual respect and shared passion for old-time gospel music made for a powerful performance, leading to the Blind Boys asking Jamey to produce their next CD.
The Blind Boys of Alabama have worked with artists as diverse as Peter Gabriel and Lou Reed to Anthony Hamilton, Ben Harper and Third Day.
The group continues to tour the world, performing over 150 concerts each year.
For more info on the Blind Boys of Alabama visit http://www.blindboys.com.
By Jim Asker
