The Five Blind Boys of Alabama · (Active: 1940's —2000's)

Styles:	Contemporary Gospel
	Southern Gospel
	Traditional Gospel
	Gospel
	Black Gospel
Formed:	1937 Talladega, AL
Active:	1940's—2000's

Biography by Bil Carpenter, All Music Guide

Evolving out of the Happyland Jubilee Singers, this traditional black gospel quartet was formed in 1937 at the Talladega Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Alabama. By the '40s they became "the Blind Boys" and recorded for Specialty, Vee Jay, Savoy, Elektra, and other labels. Their first hit was "I Can See Everybody's Mother But Mine" in 1949. Recently, their lineup has included Joe Watson, Jimmy Carter, Sam and Bobby Butler, Curtis Foster, Johnny Fields, andClarence Fountain. They appeared on Broadway in Gospel at Colonus, but gained much more fame during the late '90s and early 2000s while recording a series of albums for Peter Gabriel's Real World label, beginning with the collaboration-heavy Spirit of the Century. The group also appeared on Gabriel's 2002 album Up.

Back to the topMembers of The Five Blind Boys of Alabama

Artist	Instrument	Born
Clarence Fountain	Vocals	November 28, 1929 Tyler, AL
George Scott	Bass	1953 Notasoga, AL
Jimmy Carter		February 11, 1932 Birmingham, AL
Joey Williams	Guitar, Vocals
Johnny Fields	Bass (Vocal)	September 09, 1927 Lowndesboro, AL
Olice Thomas	Baritone (Vocal)	May 05, 1926 Gainesville, AL