The Blind Boys Of Alabama life and biography

Evolving out of the Happyland Jubilee Singers, this traditional black gospel quartet was formed in 1937 at the Talladega Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Alabama. By the '40s they became "the Blind Boys" and recorded for Specialty, Vee Jay, Savoy, Elektra, and other labels. Their first hit was "I Can See Everybody's Mother But Mine" in 1949. Recently, their lineup has included Joe Watson, Jimmy Carter, Sam and Bobby Butler, Curtis Foster, Johnny Fields, andClarence Fountain. They appeared on Broadway in Gospel at Colonus, but gained much more fame during the late '90s and early 2000s while recording a series of albums for Peter Gabriel's Real World label, beginning with the collaboration-heavy Spirit of the Century. The group also appeared on Gabriel's 2002 album Up.

Current members
* Jimmy Carter – vocals
* Bishop Billy Bowers – vocals
* Ben Moore - vocals
* Eric "Ricky" McKinnie – drums, percussion, vocals
* Joey Williams – lead guitar & vocals
* Tracy Pierce – bass
* Peter Levin - organ
* Clarence Fountain – tours with the group as his health allows

Founding members
* Clarence Fountain - vocals
* Jimmy Carter - vocals
* Johnny Fields (deceased) - vocals
* George Scott (deceased) - vocals
* Ollice Thomas (deceased) - vocals
* JT Hutton - vocals
* Vel Bozman Traylor (deceased) - vocals

Past members
* Caleb Butler – rhythm guitar
* Samuel Butler Jr - rhythm guitar, song writer and arranger, manager, second lead singer
* Lamont Blount-- (deceased) band manager

Discography
* 1948 I Can See Everybody's Mother But Mine
* 1950 Livin' On Mother's Prayers
* 1950 Sweet Honey in the Rocks
* 1953 Sermon
* 1953 When I Lost My Mother
* 1954 Marching to Zion
* 1954 Oh Lord Stand By Me
* 1958 My Mother's Train
* 1959 God is On the Throne
* 1959 The Original Blind Boys
* 1963 (1957) You'll Never Walk Alone
* 1963 Old Time Religion
* 1963 True Convictions
* 1965 Can I Get a Witness?
* 1967 Church Concert in New Orleans (Live)
* 1969 Fix it Jesus Like You Said You Would
* 1969 Jesus Will Be Waiting
* 1970 In the Gospel Light
* 1970 The Five Blind Boys From Alabama
* 1970 The Soul of Clarence Fountain
* 1973 Best of Five Blind Boys of Alabama
* 1974 Precious Memories
* 1978 The Soldier Album
* 1984 Faith Moves Mountains
* 1987 In the Hands of the Lord
* 1989 I'm a Changed Man
* 1989 The Five Blind Boys of Alabama
* 1990 Brand New
* 1990 I'm Not That Way Anymore
* 1991 I am a Soldier
* 1991 Oh Lord, Stand By Me / Marching Up to Zion
* 1991 The Best of the Five Blind Boys
* 1992 Deep River
* 1993 Bridge Over Troubled Waters
* 1994 Alive in Person
* 1994 Blessed Assurance
* 1994 Don't Forget To Pray
* 1994 In the Gospel Light
* 1994 Soul Gospel
* 1994 Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
* 1995 1948-51
* 1995 I Brought Him With Me
* 1996 All Things Are Possible
* 1996 Golden Mements in Gospel
* 1997 Holdin' On
* 1998 Have Faith: The Very Best of the Five Blind Boys of Alabama
* 1999 Best of Clarence Fountain and the Five Blind Boys of Alabama
* 1999 Hallelujah: A Collection of Their Finest
* 2000 My Lord What a Morning
* 2001 Gospel For the Lord
* 2001 Original Blind Boys
* 2001 Spirit of the Century
* 2001 You'll Never Walk Alone / True Convictions
* 2002 Collectors Edition
* 2002 Higher Ground
* 2002 I Saw the Light
* 2003 Go Tell it On the Mountain
* 2004 There Will Be a Light (with Ben Harper)
* 2005 Atom Bomb
* 2006 Just a Closer Walk with Thee, a compilation of work ranging from the years 1963–1965
* 2008 Down in New Orleans
* 2009 Duets
* 2010 Faith Moves Mountains

Contributions
* 2002 - Lifted: Songs of the Spirit - "Freedom Road"
* 2002 - WYEP Live and Direct: Volume 4 - On Air Performances - "Amazing Grace"
* 2007 - Song of America - "Let Us Break Bread Together"

Grammy Awards
* 2002 for Spirit of the Century
* 2003 for Higher Ground
* 2004 for Go Tell it On the Mountain
* 2005 for There Will Be a Light
* 2009 for Down in New Orleans
* 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award

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