Artist Blind Boys Of Alabama

Hailing from a bygone era of literal band names, the Blind Boys Of Alabama are actually blind and from Alabama. They’re not exactly boys, though—more like very old men who sing down-home Southern blues and gospel, their torch song being a version of “Amazing Grace” set to the tune of “House Of The Rising Sun.” (Though they might be more familiar for their cover of Tom Waits’ “Down In The Hole,” used as the theme song to the first season of The Wire.) Still, they’re humble, understated, and still going strong for a group that started in 1939. Even though the ’00s saw two founding members died and longtime lead vocalist Clarence Fountain go into semi-retirement for health reasons, the group still keeps releasing music, including 2011’s Take The High Road.

Updated 10/26/2011