Although the Blind Boys of Alabama have been singing gospel music for more than five decades, it's only recently that the group has had the benefit of a major record company behind them. The founding members were Clarence Fountain, Johnny Fields, George Scott, Ollice Thomas, and Vel Trayler. The current group consists of Eric McKinney, Billy Bowers, Jimmy Carter, Joey Williams, and Donald Dillion.
From their inception in the 1930s, when all were boys, all members of the group except one were blind. They began singing when all were students, in the glee club, at the Talladega Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Alabama, but didn't begin recording until 1948. As a youth, Fountain heard the legendary Golden Gate Quintet on the radio; the early Five Blind Boys of Alabama took their musical cues from that group. The group began singing professionally as the Happyland Jubilee Singers, and for years only toured the Bible Belt in the Southern U.S.
Since 1948, they've recorded for a variety of small record companies, and had gospel music hits in the 1950s with "Oh, Lord Stand By Me" and "I Can See Everybody's Mother But I Can't See Mine". In 1950, after the death of one of their members, the group renamed themselves simply the Blind Boys of Alabama.
The group recorded first for the Newark-based Coleman Records label. Between 1953 and 1957, the group recorded for Art Rupe's California-based Specialty label. In the 1960s, the group's hard-driving gospel sounds were imitated by people like Bobby "Blue" Bland and Marvin Gaye. The group recorded extensively for the Vee Jay label from 1963 to 1965. In 1969, Fountain left the group for a decade to try to make it on his own, and the group re-formed with all the original members in the late 1970s.
They gained widespread success in 1988, when they starred in an Obie Award-winning Broadway show. According to Fountain, the group's high point was being on Broadway for 15 weeks with the musical Gospel at Colonus. The musical opened up new avenues to bookings for the group, and they began touring theaters and larger churches in the early 1990s, embarking on their first European tours as well. The group was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship in 1994. In 1994 and 1995, the group played festivals including the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Beale Street Music Festival and the King Biscuit Blues Festival. The group also toured in Melbourne, Australia and the World's Fair, in Brisbane.
Mid-1990s television appearances included Black Entertainment Television's On Jazz, and even a cameo on Beverly Hills, 90210.
Since the turn of the century, founding members, George Scott (2005) and Johnny Fields (2009) passed away. Clarence Fountain remains the only living founding member. The group is still performing, under the vocal leadership of longtime member, Jimmy Carter. Releases by the group in recent years have been favorites at the Grammy Awards — they have won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album every year since 2002. The Blind Boys of Alabama were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2002. Their cover of the Tom Waits song "Way Down in The Hole" was featured as the opening theme for season one of HBO's The Wire. In 2008 they released Down in New Orleans, on which they were accompanied by such Crescent City legends as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Allen Toussaint.
Founding members
Jimmy Carter – vocals
Clarence Fountain – vocals (November 28, 1929 - June, 3, 2018)
Johnny Fields (deceased) – vocals
George Scott (d. 2005) – vocals
Olice Thomas (deceased) – vocals
Vel Bozman Traylor (deceased) – vocals
Past members
Bishop Billy Bowers (deceased, July 2, 2013) – vocals
Caleb Butler – rhythm guitar
Samuel Butler Jr – rhythm guitar, songwriter and arranger, manager, second lead singer
Roscoe Robinson – lead vocals
Charles Porter - vocals
Lamont Blount (deceased) – band manager
Precious Lord
The Blind Boys Of Alabama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wouldn't let my dear savior in
Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night
Praise the Lord, I saw the light.
Just like a blind man I wandered a long,
Worries and fears I claimed for my own.
Then like the blind man that God gave back my sight
I was a fool to wander and stray,
Straight is the gate and narrow the way
Now I have traded the wrong for the right
Praise the Lord, I saw the light.
I saw the light, I saw the light
No more in darkness no more in night
Now I'm so happy, no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord, I saw the light.
The Blind Boys Of Alabama's song "Precious Lord" tells the story of a person who has lived a life full of sin and darkness. It begins with the singer expressing their aimless wandering and their denial of Jesus Christ. However, their life takes an unexpected turn when Jesus appears "like a stranger in the night". This experience leads to a transformation where the singer is filled with joy and light, and now sees the world in a new way.
The song also references the biblical story of the blind man who was given back his sight by God. The singer compares their own journey to that of the blind man, who was once lost but was able to see the light of God. The song expresses a sense of newfound faith and hope, and how the singer has traded the wrong for the right. Overall, the song is a powerful testament to the transformative power of faith and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin
I lived a directionless life, indulging in sinful behavior.
I wouldn't let my dear savior in
I refused to accept Jesus Christ into my life.
Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night
Jesus' presence entered my life unexpectedly, like a stranger who passes by in the night.
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
I am grateful for my new outlook on life and my newfound faith.
Just like a blind man I wandered a long
I wandered through life without direction or understanding, much like a blind person.
Worries and fears I claimed for my own.
Anxiety and fear were constantly on my mind and I took them as my own possessions.
Then like the blind man that God gave back my sight
God gave me a new perspective on life, like the gift of sight to a blind person.
Praise the Lord, I saw the light.
I am grateful for my new perspective in life and my newfound faith.
I was a fool to wander and stray,
I acknowledge my past mistakes and foolish choices.
Straight is the gate and narrow the way
The path to righteousness is not easy and requires discipline.
Now I have traded the wrong for the right
I have chosen to make positive changes in my life and embrace a life guided by faith.
Praise the Lord, I saw the light.
I am grateful for my new outlook on life and my newfound faith.
I saw the light, I saw the light
I experienced a profound moment of enlightenment and understanding.
No more in darkness no more in night
I have been liberated from the darkness and ignorance of my past.
Now I'm so happy, no sorrow in sight
I have found genuine happiness and no longer carry the burden of regret or sadness.
Praise the Lord, I saw the light.
I am grateful for my new outlook on life and my newfound faith.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: THOMAS A. DORSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind