Reflections: Blind Boys of Alabama
What do Lou Reed, Ben Harper, Chrissie Hynde, Peter Gabriel, Béla Fleck, Prince, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Waits and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon all have in common? Two things. First, all of them have—at one time or another— collaborated with The Blind Boys of Alabama. Second, none of them were born yet in 1939, when that renowned gospel troupe first sang together. Since then, there have been several Grammys—including a Lifetime Achievement Award— performances for presidents at the White House and a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. There have also been tours all over the world and dozens of albums.