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The Blind Boys of Alabama Perform in Studio

Musical guests, the Blind Boys of Alabama, join us in studio for a performance chat about their Grammy award winning career. From the group's origins in the 1930s to their latest Christmas album, we s

The Blind Boys of Alabama Perform in Studio

Tom Fudge: The original members of the Blind Boys of Alabama have been together since 1939. That’s when they met at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind. The rest, as they say, is gospel music history. They’ve performed with some of the greatest rock and soul artists in the country. I saw them perform almost 20 years ago in the hit musical The Gospel At Colonus . Since then they’ve won four Grammy awards, one of them for their Christmas album, called Go Tell in on the Mountain .

They’re in town to perform at the Belly Up Tavern tonight (Monday) in Solana Beach at 8 p.m.
 

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Guests

  • Jimmy Carter, vocals
  • Ricky McKinnie, drums
  • Billie Bowers, vocals
  • Ben Moore, vocals
  • Joey Williams, guitar
  • Bobby Butler, rhythm guitar
  • Tracy Pierce, bass

Photos by Ross Ching

The Blind Boys of Alabama perform in the KPBS Performance Studio.
The Blind Boys of Alabama perform in the KPBS Performance Studio.
Jimmy Carter sings.
Jimmy Carter sings.
Bobby Butler performs on rhythm guitar.
Bobby Butler performs on rhythm guitar.
Billy Bowers sings with Ricky McKinnie on drums.
Billy Bowers sings with Ricky McKinnie on drums.
Angela Carone, producer, and Kurt Kohnen, technical director, in the control room while the Blind Boys of Alabama perform live.
Angela Carone, producer, and Kurt Kohnen, technical director, in the control room while the Blind Boys of Alabama perform live.