being founded in 1939. In 2019, Jason Isbell selected the Blind Boys to join him for his October residency at the Ryman Auditorium. Shortly after, they were featured with Irish TV host Hector Ó hEochagáin for his show Hector USA. The Blind Boys' 2019 Christmas Tour earned the praise of The New Yorker, which commented "The beloved gospel ensemble the Blind Boys of Alabama...remains perennially fresh, whether it's interjecting godliness into unexpected songs or, as in this case, saluting Christmas." 2020s In March 2020, the group toured Australia and New Zealand, performing at the Womadelaide and Womad NZ festivals. In May 2020, Woodstock legend Wavy Gravy included the Blind Boys in his virtual music festival celebrating his 84th birthday. To kick off 2021, the Recording Academy featured the Blind Boys performing 'If I Had a Hammer' on their "Positive Vibes Only" series. Later that year, the Blind Boys teamed up with Béla Fleck to release a new version of "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" for Record Store Day. The song went on to be nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best American Roots Performance category. Singer Ben Moore (Benjamin Moore, Jr.) died of natural causes on May 12, 2022. He was 80 years old. In July 2022, the Blind Boys were featured as performers at the closing ceremonies of the World Games at the Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. They performed with Jamey Johnson and a 75-piece orchestra led by Dr. Henry Panion on a bill headlined by Lionel Richie. In September 2022, the Blind Boys released two collaborative tracks with Black Violin titled "We Are One" and "The Message", the latter of which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Americana Performance. The View featured the Blind Boys on Martin Luther King Jr Day 2023, including an interview and multiple performances. Awards and nominations Other honors Current members Founding members Past members Discography As main artists 1949 – I Can See Everybody's Mother But Mine – Coleman Records 1950 – Sweet Honey in the Rocks – Palda Records 1950 – Livin' On Mother's Prayers – Palda Records 1950 – Come Over Here The Table Spread – Palda Records 1953 – The Sermon 1953 – When I Lost My Mother – Specialty Records 1954 – Marching Up To Zion – Specialty Records 1954 – Oh Lord, Stand By Me – Specialty Records 1958