Blind Boys of Alabama: Taking the high road

The little boy could distinguish light of day and dark of night.

But he couldn’t catch a ball, run as fast as he could or see his mother’s smile. Jimmy Carter was blind from birth, and as a youngster, he wanted to know why.

“My parents had six boys and the only one that was blind was me,” said Carter, founding member of the legendary gospel music group the Blind Boys of Alabama. “I used to talk to God about that.

“I would ask him why did he choose me to be blind. I know why now. He had work for me to do, and this is it.

“When I think about all that, I think it makes me sing a little better. If I had been able to see, I don’t think I would be doing what I’m doing now.”

The Blind Boys of Alabama will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Jefferson Theater on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall. They are currently touring in support of their new album, “Take The High Road.”

The new record is the group’s first country gospel album, and the entertainers featured on it say something about the esteem the group enjoys within the music industry. Collaborating musicians include Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Lee Ann Womack, Jamey Johnson, Hank Williams Jr. and the Oak Ridge Boys.

The Blind Boys formed in 1939 when the members were students at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in Talladega. By 1944, they decided they were good enough to take their show on the road.

“There was a group called the Golden Gate Quartet at the time,” said Carter, who, when asked his age, would concede only that he was past 50. “We loved them, and they were out on the road, so we said if they could do it, so could we.

“There were hard days, but we didn’t care about that. When we started out we weren’t thinking about the money. We knew it takes money to live, but we did this because we loved to sing and mingle with the people.

“We were dedicated young men, and we were determined to stick it out. When we first started we were playing in black churches, elementary schools and auditoriums.

“When we started out in the South, it was segregated big time. Back then we couldn’t sing for anyone but black folk. Now we can sing for anybody. That’s a good thing.”

A very good thing — and the group’s awards prove it. They have received five Grammy Awards for recordings they’ve made, and an additional Grammy for lifetime achievement. In 2007 they were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

In February 2010 the Blind Boys performed at the White House for President Obama and the first lady. He was the third president they had sung for.

“We have a lot to be thankful for,” said Carter, who is the last founding member of the group still touring fulltime. “I thank God we have been allowed to stay out here this long and touch so many lives.

“When we started out we had no idea we would become — I don’t like to use the word ‘famous’ — I just like to say a lot of people know us. We’ve had people come up with tears in their eyes telling us how we had touched them on a particular night.

“That’s what makes it all worth while. I hope we can stay out here just a little longer, and see what God has in store for us.”

Carter was speaking via telephone from New York City where the group had been performing. He was leaving that evening for Nashville, Tenn., to support a telethon that Hank Williams Jr., was putting on to help tornado victims in Alabama.

The Blind Boys have a busy schedule, but Carter has no plans to slow down.

“When I get out on that stage my first thought is to feel out the crowd and see what kind of a mood they’re in,” Carter said. “Most of the time they’re very receptive and responsive.

“To get out on the stage and hear that response from the crowd is really rewarding to me. Just that is enough to keep me going.

“So I’d just like to say we’re on our way to Charlottesville, and I hope the fans come out because we’re going to have a good time. And we’re going to try to say something or sing something that’s going to life someone up.”

The Blind Boys of Alabama will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Jefferson Theater. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $27 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at www. jeffersontheater.com.