Echoes Of The South

Description

Hailed as "titans of gospel" by Rolling Stone, the Blind Boys of Alabama have defied the considerable obstacles they faced in the segregated South, transitioning from performing for pocket change to representing three different presidents over an 80-year career that has seen them break down racial barriers, give a voice to the civil rights movement, and help redefine modern gospel music forever. The new album from the five-time Grammy Award winners, Echoes Of The South, takes its name from the Birmingham radio show that hosted the group's very first professional performance in 1944. Blending traditional spirituals and long-lost gospel classics with period soul and R&B tunes, this collection is as moving as it is timeless, transcending genres and eras to touch on something deep and fundamental about the human condition. These are songs of love and friendship, joy and gratitude, faith and perseverance. As poignant as they are, the recordings can sometimes feel bittersweet: Jimmy Carter, 91, has stepped back from the stage after the sessions, while two long-time members, Paul Beasley and Benjamin Moore Jr., have since passed away. Despite these losses, the Blind Boys of Alabama show no signs of slowing down.