The Blind Boys of Alabama Credit: Cole Weber

Overview:

The living legends of gospel music will perform at the Egg on April 15.

Leading ambassadors of American culture, the Blind Boys of Alabama are arguably the nation’s longest-running gospel music group, having formed in 1939. On April 15, the evergreen ensemble will bring their deep, heart-stirring communal spirit to the region when they perform at the iconic, recently renovated arts center the Egg.

Winners of five Grammy Awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Blind Boys of Alabama, who have featured a changing roster of members over their nearly 90-year history, sang at the White House during the Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama presidencies. Besides headlining concerts around the world, the group has collaborated with Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, Susan Tedeschi, Ben Harper, Patty Griffin, Michael Franti, Meshell Nedegeocello, Chrissie Hynde, Richard Thompson, Bonnie Raitt, John Hammond, Bela Fleck, and Taj Mahal.

In the 1960s, the collective appeared at benefits for Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights events. In addition to many timeless gospel standards, their repertoire has included songs by Prince, the Velvet Underground, Tom Waits, the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, and others.

The Blind Boys of Alabama will perform at the Egg in Albany on April 15 at 8pm. Zan and the Winter Folk will open. Tickets are $59.

Peter Aaron is the arts editor for Chronogram.

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