Five Blind Boys of Mississippi

Five Blind Boys of Mississippi

Company type	Musical group
Industry	Gospel music
Founded	1936
Headquarters	Chicago , United States
Products	Gospel music recordings and performances

The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi was a prominent American gospel quartet active in the post-World War II era. Under the leadership of vocalist Archie Brownlee, their track "Our Father" climbed to number ten on the Billboard R&B charts in early 1951.

John Fogerty sought to capture the essence of male gospel vocal harmonies in his song "Proud Mary", drawing inspiration from ensembles such as the Swan Silvertones, the Sensational Nightingales, and the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi.

History

The ensemble originated in 1936 as a quartet composed of students from the Piney Woods School near Jackson, Mississippi. Initial members included Brownlee, Joseph Ford, Lawrence Abrams, and Lloyd Woodard. They first performed under the name "the Cotton Blossom Singers," delivering jubilee quartet and secular songs to support fundraising efforts for their school. The formation of this group of blind vocalists was facilitated by their instructor, Martha Louise Morrow Foxx, at the request of school founder Laurence C. Jones. On March 9, 1937, they recorded religious songs as the Blind Boys and secular pieces under alternate names for ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax. Following their graduation in the early 1940s, they pursued professional careers performing both as the Cotton Blossom Singers (pop repertoire) and The Jackson Harmoneers (sacred music), frequently accompanied by a female jazz ensemble from their school, the "International Sweethearts of Rhythm." The addition of Melvin Henderson (also known as Melvin Hendrix) in the early 1940s expanded the group into a quintet.

By the mid-1940s, Brownlee and several members had relocated to Chicago, adopting the moniker Five Blind Boys of Mississippi. Drawing influence from R.H. Harris of the Soul Stirrers, Brownlee transitioned from jubilee styles toward a more intense hard gospel sound. His signature high-pitched vocals spanned from smooth crooning to powerful screams, defining their musical identity. Though blind since birth, Brownlee was renowned for his dynamic stage presence.

The group reached its height of popularity with hard gospel vocalist Rev. Percell Perkins (1917-2003) replacing Henderson and assuming management duties. Their recording history includes sessions with Excelsior (1946), Coleman (1948), and a move to Peacock Records in 1950 where "Our Father" achieved commercial success. Over more than ten years, they released numerous hits such as "Old Ship Of Zion," "Coming Home," and "Will Jesus Be Waiting?". Brownlee passed away at age 34 from pneumonia while on tour in 1960; Perkins shortly thereafter departed to pursue ministry work.

Following Brownlee’s death, lead vocals were taken over by Roscoe Robinson, then by Henry Johnson, whose powerful singing echoed Brownlee’s style. Quartet veteran Willmer Broadnax served as second lead before being succeeded by Willie Mincey. Additional members included Rev. Sammy Lewis, Rev. George Warren, James Watts, and Vance Powell. By the late 1960s, their discography with Peacock Records encompassed 27 singles and two albums. They recorded for Jewel Records during the 1970s and early 1980s and continued touring into the following decade. Original members Lloyd Woodard died in 1973, Lawrence Abrams in 1982, and Henry Johnson in 1999.

It is important to distinguish the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi from The Blind Boys of Alabama, led by Clarence Fountain. There is some dispute regarding which group adopted their name first; certain accounts credit the Five Blind Boys’ naming to Perkins’ arrival in the mid-1940s, whereas Fountain maintains both groups received their names simultaneously at a Newark quartet competition in 1948.

See also

• List of musicians originating from Mississippi

Further reading

• Anthony Heilbut, Notes from the liner of the Kings of the Gospel Highway CD, Shanachie, circa 2000
• Lee Hildebrand and Opal Nations, Liner notes accompanying The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama CD, Specialty, 1993
• Dorothy Moore, primary source, 2008