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Catching
Up With The Blind Boys of Alabama
Founding Member Jimmy Carter By
Travis Kelly
Musician
Mark Schultz Peddles His Cause Across America By
Mindi Johnson
Catching Up With The Blind Boys of Alabama
Founding
Member Jimmy Carter By
Travis Kelly
"When the Blind Boys come they are going to make Tucson feel something they never felt before," says Jimmy Carter, founding member of the Blind Boys of Alabama. "When the Blind Boys leave, Tucson will never be the same again!"
After 60-plus years of performing traditional Gospel music, four Grammy Awards, and performing for Presidents of the United States of America, the Blind Boys of Alabama make their triumphant return to Tucson on Wednesday, May 16th, at the Rialto Theatre.
In a very successful career, the Blind Boys of Alabama have mixed traditional Gospel with the contemporary music of today. They have recorded songs penned by the likes of Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Cliff, Prince, Ben Harper, and Stevie Wonder. The list of guest artists featured on their recent recordings reads like an Honor Roll List, with names like Mavis Staples, Solomon Burke, George Clinton, Chrissie Hynde, and Tom Waits. The current Blind Boys lineup features original founding members Jimmy Carter and Clarence Fountain.
Recently I had the privilege of speaking to Carter, who shared his insights on music and life, and the legacy of the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Early on, Jimmy Carter was inspired by the Golden Gate Quartet. "We followed them by a radio program. We got to meet them one time. Never did get to perform with them, never did." Today Jimmy enjoys listening to country music. "You know the guys with soul. Merle Haggard, George Jones and I like Alan Jackson." As we talked I learned that Jimmy has a deep appreciation for all genres of music. "I like the Gospel the best, [but] you have to please everybody."
A big part of Jimmy's life has been his music. "We love what we're doing, we love each other. We're like family." At an age when most people would be retired and enjoying a slower-paced life, Jimmy Carter and the Blind Boys of Alabama march forward. They recorded their most recent CD, Atomic Bomb, in 2005. Their current tour schedule lists more than forty shows for the rest of the year.
"I don't have any plans to retire. I will let God tell me when I am done." Even after the death of founding member George Scott in March of 2005, whose amazing vocal talents can be heard on Atomic Bomb, the Blind Boys continue to
perform. "Losing George was a devastating loss and a staggering blow to the Blind Boys," Carter says, sadly. "When he died he was just ready to go back to touring with us." While the loss of a founding member has proven fatal for many great music groups, "George would have wanted us to go on, he's smiling down on us."
Jimmy credits his relationship with Jesus Christ for allowing him to endure the many obstacles through his career, the biggest one being his sight.
"Being born without sight, I'd question God, 'Why'd I have to be born blind?' I was a young man then. Then God gave me the answer - if I had my eyes I wouldn't be singing and doing this," Carter says. Carter's faith in Jesus is stronger than ever. "I am a follower, I am born again, I serve Him as best I know how. We all fall short. God has been good to me in my life."
While Jimmy Carter has enjoyed a career that spans more than 60 years, he doesn't just reminisce about the good ole' days. Carter comes to life when talking about the latest Blind Boys shows. "A lot of younger people now recognize the Blind Boys," Carter says. "Young people are involved in our audience and having a good time."
When the Blind Boys come to Tucson, they are going to play the blues and dabble into other music genres, along with adding their very own touch to vintage Gospel standards.
If you haven't seen the Blind Boys of Alabama in concert, you're missing out on the best two front men in music since David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations. Jimmy is going to turn it up! The energy level will flow. In fact, when the show is over and you find yourself chanting for one more, it will leave you feeling Jimmy Carter was just getting warmed up!
Musician Mark Schultz Peddles His Cause Across America By Mindi Johnson
He is a Platinum selling, Dove Award winning recording artist. Billboard magazine called him the number one "Hot Christian Adult Contemporary Songwriter." He has had more than a half dozen number one songs on the Christian charts. But these days, singer/songwriter Mark Schultz has more than just music on his mind.
From May 5 through early July, Schultz will bicycle from California to New Hampshire to raise money and awareness for orphans and widows. His 3,500-mile trek across America will take him through 13 states over the course of nine weeks, stopping to perform concerts in various cities. Schultz will be peddling through Arizona during the second week of May, stopping in Prescott for a concert on Monday, May 14th at the Heights Church (www.heightschurch.com).
In a personal interview with Schultz, I asked him the driving force behind his desire to ride across the country.
"If I don't do everything within me possible to help these kids out, I'm not doing my part," said Schultz.
Schultz said that the inspiration for his journey came from two sources: his own adoption - he was adopted at two weeks old, and a visit to orphanages in Mexico by Schultz and his wife. The Schultz's experienced firsthand the harsh realities that these children endure everyday. After the visit, Schultz decided he wanted to make a difference.
"I really woke to how grateful I am to be in this position I am in right now - at one time that was me (an orphan) and I got a great family," he said. "So it's my turn to give back."
One of Mark's sponsors on this journey is the James Fund, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to meeting the needs of orphans and widows around the world. The organization bases its purpose on the Bible verse found in James 1:27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..."
In response to this verse, Schultz said, "True religion is about taking care of widows and orphans. To me that's what it all boils down to."
Mark's journey can be tracked through the website www.markacrossamerica.org. On the website, you can also make donations to the James Fund, check out Mark's concert schedule, read Mark's blog or sign-up to receive email alerts of the latest information on Mark Schultz and the James Fund.
© 2008 Good News Tucson™