Blind Boys bask in spotlight with first holiday album

For Clarence Fountain, it's been the best yearof his life.
DALLAS MORNING NEWS
Clarence Fountain smiled. This, he hopes, is going to be the best Christmas he's ever had.
The 74-year-old will visit at least 40 cities in the next several months, and he is not going to be anywhere near his Baton Rouge, La., home on Christmas Day.
But the season looks bright for the front man for the Blind Boys of Alabama. After an ebb in popularity, the group is enjoying nationwide bookings, television appearances, cameo roles in movies, a new generation of fans and their first holiday album, "Go Tell It On The Mountain."
This moment has been some 60 years in the making -- from the time in 1939 when he, Jimmy Carter, 71, George Scott, 74, and three other members formed a chorus at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind at Talladega.
A broad smile spreads across his face when he's asked: How is the group doing?
"Nothing is better than this," said Fountain, who lost his sight at age 3 from a home remedy for pink eye. "This has been the best year of my life. This group has come a long way, and God is the overseer of it all."
Tradition and friendships
As he talked, several other members formed a tight circle in a corner of a room backstage at the Potter's House in Dallas. The men began to harmonize, preparing for a taping of the Christmas special "Follow The Star," which will air on Christmas on Black Entertainment Television. The room was filled with melodic sounds and the warm spirit of old friendship.
"They are like family," said Chris Goldsmith, who was the executive producer on their last three albums and has known "the boys" for 15 years. "When I first heard them back in the 1980s, I knew I had never seen or heard anything like them. As soon as they hit that first note, I knew they were good."
The group came up in the tradition of quartet singing, performing Southern spirituals a cappella. Although the group's sound has evolved over the years with influences from the blues, doo-wop and even funk, Fountain says the group prefers "the old stuff."
"I grew up listening to my Daddy sing," said Fountain, who started singing at age 9, about the time he was baptized. "I was impressed with my Daddy's singing, and I tried to be as good. He was my inspiration."
Goldsmith said he "admires their flexibility and versatility."
Their 12-song collection, "Go Tell It On The Mountain" on Real World Records, reflects that by featuring soul legend Solomon Burke; singer and songwriter Tom Waits; Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders; Aaron Neville; George Clinton; Les McCann; and Mavis Staples, a member of the legendary Staple Singers.
Acquiring fame
The group started with six members in the '30s, including Fountain, Scott and Carter. During the past 10 years, Joey Williams, Ricky McKinnie, Bobby Butler and Tracey Pierce joined the group.
"We have let new people come in," Fountain said. "We train them to our standards. They have to audition and know the traditional gospel music.
"And they have got to be over 40," he said, laughing. All the singers and the drummer are blind. The one member of the group who can see leads them onto stage and wears sunglasses during performances.
The Blind Boys received some notice on radio and through tours of small venues during the 1940s and 1950s. Aaron Neville recalled street groups during his youth wanting to sing like the boys.
Fame has brought more material possessions, but Fountain has remained focused on his roots and humble beginnings. For many years, while growing up in Tyler, Ala., the only Christmas present he received was a sack of candy, apples and oranges. To get all three was special because "we were too poor to buy anything else."
He is pleased with the group's success but does not rely on it.
"None of us could see this ahead of us when we were the Blind Boys chorale," Fountain said. "It has worked out in God's time, not ours. We try to take it all in stride, to stay humble and continue to serve the Lord in spirit."
The group says a prayer before every performance, asking for God's blessing.
"If this album is a hit, we will be thanking God on Christmas Day for the best present ever," he said.