Live Review
The Blind Boys of Alabama
@ The Cedar Cultural Centre,
March 13, 1999
by Ray Stiles
|
|
 |
Clarence Fountain
Mar. 13, 1999
Photo © 1999 Tom Asp. All rights reserved
|
The seeds of The Blind Boys of Alabama were planted back in 1937 at the Alabama Talladega Institute for the Deaf and Blind when Clarence Fountain, not yet in his teens, put together a group from their glee club called the "Happy Land Jubilee Singers." Fountain fondly recalls some of their first performances where they would sneak out to perform at the nearby army base. The enthusiastic response they received eventually inspired the group to drop out of school and hit the Gospel Highway in 1945 and except for a few brief detours along the way they haven't looked back.
To compete with another blind gospel singing group called the Five Bind Boys of Mississippi, the group changed their name in 1950 to the Five Blind Boys of Alabama. These two "Blind Boys" groups would square off in epic battles of the bands, where their hard edged Gospel shouting usually provoked pandemonium in their audiences. Now, almost six decades later, The Blind Boys of Alabama are still thrilling congregations and audiences with their gritty, revival-style, "I dare you not to get up and dance" enthusiasm.
 |
Clarence & Jimmy
Photo © 1999 Tom Asp.
All rights reserved
|
The sold out show at the Cedar, although short, was intense, heady fare. Clarence Fountain, had the flu and was a little horse, but after a few songs you never would have known he was under the weather. He started out sitting on a chair but was up, standing, jumping and even dancing more often than not. They were dressed is some funky, retro 1970's outfits with those huge pointy shirt colors that shouted at us in bright orange -- I didn't know people were still wearing those shirts.
They started their set with the gospel number "Nobody Know the Trouble I've Seen" which featured some excellent four-part harmony. Clarence still has that deep booming voice that starts way down in the basement and explodes on stage. He was joined by two of the remaining Blind Boys, Jimmy Carter and drummer Eric McKiny and an excellent band featuring two guitars and bass. The group easily slips between blues, Christian pop, soul and a cappella harmony. In fact, The Blind Boys of Alabama combine astonishing harmonies with stately fervor that manages to be both dignified and ecstatic at the same time.
 |
Jimmy Carter
Photo © 1999 Tom Asp. All rights reserved
|
The short set ended with a song that must have lasted about half an hour, and as is their custom it showcased Jimmy Carter on lead. He was lowered out into the audience and commenced to walk through the crowd, singing, preaching, witnessing and thrilling the audience who were all on their feet by this point shaking and dancing with Jimmy. He was jumping with ecstatic joy and at several points he was shaking his mike at the audience like a preacher blessing his congregation. He ended with a soaring "Amazing Grace" that reflected the spirit he was feeling from the audience and closed out the evening on a memorable high note. These remarkable pilgrims of the gospel highway are still a mighty force to be reckoned with.
This review is copyright © 1999 by Ray Stiles, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
|
|
E-mail Ray Stiles at: 
