The Gospel Truth Of The BlindBoys Of Alabama

Fri 10th Mar, 2006 in Features

Inspirational.
Spiritual.
Soulful.
Funky.

A group of adjectives that labels very few performers on this home we call the planet Earth. Besides releasing 60 recordings in as many years, performing mostly on the gospel circuit for many of those years and now finding success by mixing other genres with their sound, the Blind Boys of Alabama, are also the unmatched purveyors of this heavenly blend of music.

Formed by Clarence Fountain, at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939, this long running group has gone through some changes through the years but the Blind Boys are as vital and as strong as ever. Touring and recording as if everyday is a gift, the Blind Boys of Alabama are at the top of their game even as they (some of them) enter their 70’s. The band is made up of founding members  Clarence Fountain and Jimmy Carter, and more recent members Ricky Mckinnie, Joey Williams, Bobby Butler and Tracy Pierce. One of the founding members, the great George Scott, passed in 2005. I caught up with Ricky Mckinnie, the blind gospel drummer and road manager for the band, from his hotel in Las Vegas, in order to find out a little bit more about where the Blind Boys are headed and where they have been.

Ricky, a ‘youngster’ in the band, has been with the Blind Boys for 15 years or so. Ricky, described as the ‘only’ blind gospel drummer on the planet, is a man of deep spiritual richness and calm demeanor. Blind since 1975, due to glaucoma, he has continued his musical career and growth even with this vision impairment. “God is at the head of my life. A disability does not have to be a handicap. My motto is, “I am not blind. I just can’t see”, Ricky articulated. And you can understand that he is not ‘blind’ when you hear him talk about the work and blessings of being a member of the Blind Boys of Alabama. “Clarence Fountain had a lot of insight starting the group nearly 70 years ago and he has carried us to higher and higher heights because of his abilities to know where he wanted to go and to get there. He inspired me to know that you can make it if you want”, Ricky stated.

In the last 15 years the Blind Boys of Alabama have been nominated numerous times for Grammy Awards and 3 of their last 4 releases have gone home with the top gong. ”Spirit of the Century” in 2000 started the string of Grammy’s and saw them collaborate with Tom Waits and Ben Harper, amongst others. I asked Ricky what he thought of the collaborations with numerous musical icons over the years and how they impact their work. Ricky said, “Well you know, the Bible said if you are faithful to a few things, that God will make you a master over even greater things and that is what has happened. The word has come true and if you go out and lift God up he will draw all men. He is making people know the Good News of Gospel music through the Blind Boys”

And the spirit took them to “Higher Ground” where they won another Grammy and found themselves surrounded by family, well that is, Robert Randolph and the Family Band and Ben Harper once again. If you want to start your introduction to the Blind Boys with this release you would not be disappointed with songs by Curtis Mayfield, Aretha Franklin and the title track, of course, penned by Stevie Wonder. This CD is a 5 star classic to be enjoyed by lovers of music, not just gospel fans. Collaborations continued on the Grammy Award winning Christmas CD, “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” Guests included Michael Franti, Chrissie Hynde, Solomon Burke, Mavis Staples, Tom Waits and so many more talents within the grooves. This is definitely a Christmas release head and shoulders above the sugary sweet cover versions you usually find released in December.

Following this release the Blind Boys found themselves in the studio with Ben Harper, where they helped Ben with his vocals a bit, and Ben thanks them with some fantastic playing. The combined forces of the Innocent Criminals and the Blind Boys produced a timeless release entitled “There Will Be A Light”. This is a must-have for any true lover of roots music in the 21st Century. Ricky and the rest of the Blind Boys of Alabama released “Atom Bomb” in 2005 but have decided to slow down just a bit as far as the studio is concerned. “Hopefully next year we will put a record out. We have so many records out right now I think that is one of the reasons we didn’t get nominated for a Grammy this year. We will try to give the people an opportunity to listen and enjoy what we have out there”, noted Ricky.

But the road is where they hang their hats and over the next few months they will be performing live with some symphony orchestras in the United States; performing a production of the great gospel musical, “Gospel at Colonus” at the Vienna festival and then coming to Australia for the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival in Byron Bay and some sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne. Ricky knows the feeling of wanting to get it done while they can, “We don’t have that much time off….we just keep singing and moving , which is good, cause you never know what is going to happen down the road. So we keep doing what we are doing.”

And since none of us know when this walk down the road will end, please make sure you take a moment to feel the sunshine and spirit that is the Blind Boys of Alabama when they are come your way. They are a blessing for us all to experience!

You can find out all you need to know about the Blind Boys of Alabama at http://www.blindboys.com. Also check out Eric (Ricky) Mckinnies’ site at http://www.rickymckinnie.com and if you are looking for some Gospel Music on-line check out the website for http://www.wyzeradio.com in Atlanta, Georgia, where Ricky and his Mom have a programme on Sunday Morning (Atlanta time!)