Jimmy Carter, Co-Founding Member of The Blind Boys of Alabama, To Release Debut Solo Album “Blind Faith” Sept 20, 2021
Jimmy Carter, the last original member of The Blind Boys of Alabama will be releasing his, the long awaited first solo album titled “Blind Faith” on Sept 20, 2021. The album was produced and co-written by songwriter, guitarist Ron Pullman. Jimmy’s hope is to bring to the world through the music on “Blind Faith” a Gospel message and a source of peace.
“This my first solo album and I am excited to be able to sing some original music that’s in harmony with traditional Gospel, while using a range of different musical genres that embrace the Gospel sound with an up-lifting message.” – Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter is the eldest member of The Blind Boys of Alabama, five-time Grammy winners, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners, Gospel Hall of Fame, and the National Heritage Fellowship from the Endowment for the Arts to name a few. He sang with the original group, including his good friend Clarence Fountain back in the late 1930’s when they were at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Deaf and Blind, (now the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind) but was too young to go touring with them at the beginning. After singing with the Dixieland Blind Boys and the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, he eventually officially joined The Blind Boys of Alabama and has been singing with them ever since.
Jimmy dedicated the song “I Am With You Still”, the first single off of “Blind Faith”, in memory of his good friend, co-founder of The Blind Boys of Alabama, Clarence Fountain.
Record of the year – 0181 – I Am With You Still – Jimmy Carter
Song of the Year – 0459 – I Am With You Still – Jimmy Carter
Album of the Year – 126 – Blind Faith – Jimmy Carter
Best Roots Gospel – 009 – Blind Faith – Jimmy Carter
JAY DUDT’s (my engineer) other voting considerations
BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM NON CLASSICAL- 407- Strollin’ – Tony Monaco, Hendrik Meurkens, Reid Hoyson & Mark Lucas
BEST JAZZ LARGE ENSEMBLE – 043 – Bernstein Reimagined – Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra
BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM – 181 – Strollin’ – Tony Monaco, Hendrik Meurkens, Reid Hoyson & Mark Lucas
BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO 270 – You Don’t Know What Love Is – Hendrik Meurkens
Reviews:
Gospel aficionados will know all about JIMMY CARTER. Jimmy is a founder member of the The Blind Boys Of Alabama and the last surviving original member. Multi-garlanded and having recorded over 30 albums with the gospel icons and now aged 89, Carter has decided to record a solo album and his ‘Blind Faith’ has just been released.
The 9 tracker was produced by Ron Pullman and guests include Charlie Musselwhite, Alan Parsons, The Mendelson Choir of Pittsburgh and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Between them they craft an album that manages to cross genres – gospel (obviously) soul, jazz, blues, country, roots, Americana et al but all delivered with sincerity and faith – a true gospel album. Among the highlights is the emotive ‘I Am Still With You’
Despite his age, Jimmy is planning a tour and already talking about a new album. ‘Blind Faith’ is out now.