Five Blind Boys of Mississippi

Myspace Comments Myspace Layouts Get your layout at Christian Myspace Layouts † SpaceFaith.com Five Blind Boys of Mississippi One of the oldest gospel quartets in the world. This group originated in Piney Wood, Mississippi in 1944. There were five blind boys in the Piney Wood School for the blind in Piney Wood Mississippi. Their founder and manager was Lloyd Lee Woodard. Their first gospel singing group was called the "Cotton Blossom Singers". In 1945, the blind boys graduated from the school for the blind and moved to Jackson, Mississippi and renamed their group "The Jackson Harmoneers". In the late 1940’s a well known promoter by the name of Ronnie Williams booked the blind boys in Newark, New Jersey at the National Guard Armory. Mr. Williams told the Jackson Harmoneers the he thought the name, "The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi" would be a better name. The blind boys grumbled and didn’t want to change their name, but Ronnie Williams insisted and the group went on stage at the Armory in New Jersey and were announced as "The Five Blind Boys of Jackson Mississippi". After the show, the group accepted the name because it was so well received in Newark, New Jersey, and so it was. This name carried them to national recognition and world fame.The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi have been singing for fifty-five years. Today, they are strong as ever, keeping up with the pace of gospel music. These men consist of Sandy Foster, Lead Singer, Charles Monique, Second Lead, Melvin Taylor, First Tenor, Jesse Brown, Bass Singer, Robert Lewis, Baritone Singer, Curtis Foster, Tenor and Guitar Player, Freddy Bethea, Bass Player, Kevin Mathews, Drummer, Johnny Garrett, Keyboard. They have won Grammy’s and Stellar’s for many of their recordings. The group won two Grammy Awards for best songs "I Have But One Desire" and "Just Another Soldier". They were inducted into the Ebony Gospel Hall of Fame with Rev. C.L. Franklin. They have performed at major theaters and venues, including Apollo, The Met in Philadelphia, Carnegie Hall, Old Regal Theater in Chicago, the Amphitheater, and convention centers throughout the USA. They have performed all the United States and Abroad. Their international travels have included many countries, such as Germany, France, the Scandinavian countries, Belgium, Sweden, Swizterland and Austria just to name a few. The Mississippi Blind Boys ame ring throughout the world as they continue to sing their traditional hit songs of yesterday.