Featured photo: : The Blind Boys in concert at the Capitol Theater, led by musical director Joey Williams.,
Story and photos by L. M. Land
Eighty years ago, six blind teenagers called themselves The Happy Land Jubilee Singers and they sang for the first time on WSGN in Birmingham, Alabama. Over time they became the Blind Boys of Alabama, broke Jim Crow racial barriers and shaped modern gospel music. They have played at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the White House.
Watching them perform was like being a part of living history on March 8, 2024, at the Capitol Theater in downtown Flint. And it was joyous!
The show opened with another musical legend, award-winning blues artist Bobby Rush, who is now 90. His sometimes ‘spicy’ performance enlivened the audience.
The Blind Boys of Alabama came out next, whose harmonies brought out that uplifting joyous sound that is gospel music. Their performance is on one hand, very contemporary, and yet is also a vision into the past. The audience did not want the singing to end!
Rush also joined the Blind Boys at the end of the concert, and the uplifted audience gave a standing ovation for all!
The Blind Boys have won five Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a National Heritage Fellowship, an induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and more.
To read more about the performers and full list of accomplishments, see https://www.blindboys.com/about and https://www.bobbyrushbluesman.com/.
