Blind Boys of Alabama

The Blind Boys of Alabama featuring Liz Vice will perform their holiday show in Shannon Hall December 1, 2016 at 8:00 PM. Pricing is as follows: UW-Madison students are $10, Union Members and Non-UW Students are $35/$31/$25, UW-Madison Faculty and Staff are $37/$33/$25, General Public is $39/$35/$25 and Youth (18 & under) is $20. Tickets may be bought online, by phone at 608-265-ARTS (2787) or in person, see locations and hours here.

This group of blind African American, roof-raising gospel singers toured the South during the Jim Crow era, played at benefits for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and sung for three different presidents in the White House. Their 75-year career has led to five Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Grammy and an induction in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Their songs were the soundtrack of the Civil Rights Movement and they have taken their beautiful gospel tradition to almost every continent.

They are recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators. The Blind Boys are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions; they helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st. Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in late 1930s (including Jimmy Carter, who leads the group today), the band has persevered to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world.

Opening for The Blind Boys of Alabama is gospel recording artist Liz Vice, who began her career singing in small, laid back church services, soloing in front of nearly 400 parishioners. She hasn’t stopped singing since. Vice released her breakout album, There’s A Light, in 2015.

This performance is presented by the Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Performing Arts Committee, with support from Capital City Hues, WORT 89.9FM WPR, Jonathan Overby, host of “The Road To Higher Ground” and WSUM.