Ricky McKinnie Discusses The Blind Boys' Latest Grammy Win, Their PBS Special and More
No stranger to the Grammy Awards, the Blind Boys of Alabama have won multiple Grammy Awards and received the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy. A testament to their longevity and the relevance of their music, the group appeals to an eclectic audience of younger and older fans alike, including devotees of roots music and devout Christian believers, who are encouraged by the positive message and uplifting traditional gospel sounds for which the group is known.
Recently, I caught up with my friend, Ricky McKinnie, longtime member of the Blind Boys to discuss their recent Grammy win, their exciting PBS television special and some special upcoming milestones.
Back home in Atlanta following the Grammys and a string of tour dates, Ricky chatted with me via telephone. When I asked what it's like to win a Grammy on Sunday night and have your PBS special air the following evening, Ricky replied, "When we won the Best Roots Gospel Album, it let me know that we still have life. God still has something for us to do. Echoes of the South was the first radio show the Blind Boys had, and it was the title of that album that won. My good friend, Paul Beasley, has passed and Jimmy Carter has retired, but that Grammy reminded me that the music lives on, and there's something left for the Blind Boys to do."