Legendary Blind Boys ready to spread gospel

The award-winning Blind Boys of Alabama will sing at the National Jazz Festival.

After overcoming prejudice, achieving international fame, winning five Grammys and travelling to all corners of the earth, it might seem that Jimmy Carter's list of things to do wouldn't have much on it.

But the 77-year-old leader of The Blind Boys of Alabama, who have been going for 70 years, is already planning the band's 62nd album and possibly its memoirs.

The gospel group will play in Tauranga on Sunday and Monday at the National Jazz Festival - just another gig to add to the still-touring group's 200 dates a year.

Carter, who was born blind, has been leading the group since last year when founding leader Clarence Fountain gave up touring at the age of 78.

Fountain, George Scott, Johnny Fields and Ollie Thomas started the group in 1939 when they were at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind - now the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind.

Carter was also at the school, but did not start singing with the group until the 1980s.

Previously, he was with the Alabama group's long-time rivals - and close friends - the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi.

They made their first recordings in 1948, and played in gospel venues also over the United States. From the 1980s, their appeal has widened, and they have performed on Broadway, at the White House and on network television.

The Blind Boys are members of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and have worked with top secular artists including Peter Gabriel, Kanye West and Ben Harper.

No original members of the group are with it today - all except Fountain have died. But blindness remains a theme - today there are seven members of the group, four of whom are blind.

"We're like family, we'll continue on until God tells us to stop," Carter told the Herald.

It wasn't until 2001 that the group won its first Grammy but they've kept coming ever since, the latest received in February for their latest album, Down in New Orleans.

For a full festival timetable visit www.jazz.org.nz.

NATIONAL JAZZ FEST

* The Blind Boys of Alabama, Sunday 7.30pm and Monday 6.30pm, Holy Trinity church.
* Swing Reverie featuring members of Nouveau Manouche and Hot Club Sandwich, Thursday, Baycourt Theatre 8pm.
* Hollie Smith, Sunday 9.30pm, Baycourt Theatre.
* Downtown Tauranga carnival, stages set up along the main strip, Saturday and Sunday, til 5pm.
* The Jazz Village, 20 bands on four stages, Sunday and Monday 10am - 6pm, Historic Village.
* Jazz Riverboat tour around the harbour, pontoon 2 next to Kestrel, Friday to Sunday.
* Youth Jazz Competition, Friday and Saturday, Baycourt Theatre.
* Jazz Steamtrain, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, depart from Mt Maunganui.