The Blind Boys of Alabama

The Blind Boys of Alabama are a gospel music ensemble that formed in 1939 at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in Talladega, Alabama. Known for their gospel sound, they often incorporate elements of soul and blues into their music. Throughout the group’s history, its roster has changed, with the majority of its members being visually impaired.

The ensemble gained mainstream attention after appearing in the 1983 musical The Gospel at Colonus. They have performed at the White House during the administrations of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. They were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 2010.

The group’s catalog includes early recordings such as I Can See Everybody's Mother But Mine (1948) and later albums including Spirit of the Century (2001), Higher Ground (2002), Go Tell It on the Mountain (2003), Take The High Road (2011), Talkin' Christmas! (2014), Almost Home (2017), and Echoes of the South (2023). They have won six Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Other honors include a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts (1994) and Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album for Spirit of the Century (2002) and Best Roots Gospel Album for Echoes of the South (2024).