Holidays and Harmonies
Blind Boys of Alabama present Go Tell It on the Mountain at Farthing on December 6

The legendary Blind Boys of Alabama bring the spirit of the holidays to Appalachian’s Performing Arts Series, with their popular Christmas show Go Tell it on the Mountain at Farthing Auditorium on Saturday, December 6 at 8pm.

For decades, the Blind Boys of Alabama have sung an impassioned blend of traditional and contemporary Gospel music to enthusiastic audiences of all sizes.  While much has changed— 78 rpm records have given way to LPs, followed by eight-track tapes, cassettes and CDs— the Blind Boys of Alabama have remained the Iron Men of the music industry.  After more than 60 years, they have gained worldwide acceptance, winning four Grammy Awards, maintaining top ratings on the gospel charts and performing to sold-out performance halls and wide critical acclaim throughout the country.

Led by singer Jimmy Carter, who has been with the group since its first performance, today’s Blind Boys of Alabama includes Bishop Billy Bowers (vocals), Ben Moore (vocals), Eric (Ricky) McKinnie (drums), Joey Williams (lead guitar) and Tracy Pierce (bass).  The powerful singers have developed a distinctive four-part harmony that makes dramatic use of contrasting vocal leads.  Immensely popular in religious circles, this style was later adapted as a key component in secular rhythm and blues. “You see,” explains Jimmy Carter, “some people think that Gospel singers should only sing Gospel songs. But we believe in songs with a positive message. Now, we will never cross over into pop music and start singing love songs... but I love the blues.”

The core members of the group first came together in 1939 at Alabama’s Talladega Institute for the Blind, performing as The Happyland Singers.  When a promoter booked the group for a contest with another blind gospel group in 1948, he used the name “The Five Blind Boys of Alabama.”  The group liked the name, and it stuck.

The Blind Boys of Alabama brought home their first of four consecutive Grammy Awards in 2001 with their album Spirit of the Century.  In 2002, the group was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.  They have performed with such venerable and varied artists as Tom Waits, Peter Gabriel, Billy Preston and Ben Harper, demonstrating their eclectic, universal style and their unwavering ability to attract listeners of all ages and walks of life.

The Los Angeles Times praises the group for “mix[ing] spiritually-rooted holiday music with their cornerstone gospel songs in a program… imaginatively conceived, enthusiastically executed and briskly paced.”

In their December 6 holiday performance, the Blind Boys of Alabama perform comfortably familiar yet startling innovative works from their Grammy Award-winning album Go Tell It On the Mountain.  Having always wanted to cut a Christmas album, for the Blind Boys of Alabama, Go Tell It On the Mountain was a dream fulfilled, as well as an opportunity to give something to others in need (a portion of the proceeds from this album’s sales benefits the American Diabetes Association).

The 2008-09 Performing Arts Series is a presentation of Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs.  The mission of the series is to support the teaching mission of Appalachian State University by presenting a diverse array of music, dance and theatre events designed to enrich the cultural landscape of the campus and surrounding region.  By creating memorable performance experiences and related educational and outreach activities, the series promotes the power and excitement of the live performance experience; provides a “window on the world” through the artistry of nationally and internationally renowned artists; and showcases some of the finest artists of Appalachian State University’s campus community and the surrounding region.

Appalachian’s Performing Arts Series presents events through April, including:  the African Children’s Choir (Tuesday, January 27); LA Theatre Works: The Great Tennessee Monkey Trials (Wednesday, February 11); Blue Note Records’ 70th Anniversary Tour (Tuesday, February 17) and North Carolina Dance Theatre’s American Masterpieces (Thursday, April 2).

Performance tickets make great gifts that last throughout the year.  A new “Flex 4” pass offers a 10% discount and allows its holder to use four tickets in any combination at any time throughout the series.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 800-841-ARTS or 828-262-4046 or online at www.pas.appstate.edu.

The Performing Arts Series would be unable to present and publicize its wide range of extraordinary programming without critical support from a group of outstanding sponsors that are dedicated to promoting the arts in our region, including: McDonald’s of Boone, Charter Media, The Mountain Times, All About Women magazine, the Winston-Salem Journal, 100.7 MacFM, Mix 102.3, Mountain Television Network, WDAV 89.9, WFDD 88.5, WETS 89.5, WNCW 88.7 and WASURocks 90.5FM.

Tickets to the November 14  performance of Carmen are $18 for the general public, $16 for seniors, ASU faculty and staff and $10 for students and children.  Ticket prices increase at the door on show nights.  For tickets or information, call the Farthing Auditorium Box Office at 800-841-ARTS(2787) or 828-262-4046, or visit www.pas.appstate.edu.  Farthing Auditorium is located at 733 Rivers Street, and box office hours are 10am-5pm, Monday-Friday.