Clarence Fountain & The Blind Boys of Alabama have been singing God's music for over 60 years. In the course of that time they've traveled the distance; from playing small tent shows to picking up three Grammy Award nominations. Along the way they've changed and added members, but they've never lost faith. That sense of survival is reflected in the title of their latest album on House of Blues Music Company, Holdin' On.

From the group's beginnings in the 1930s as fellow students at the Talladega Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Alabama to the present, they've had one goal. Says founding member Clarence Fountain, "We just wanted to sing gospel. We wanted to be popular too, but we wanted to sing gospel." Fountain and his friends (the original group consisted of Fountain, Johnny Fields, JT Hutton, Ollice Thomas, George Scott and the late Velma B. Traylor) adopted the style of gospel singing known as jubilee, and took their show to the road.

They turned the fact that all but one member of the Blind Boys of Alabama was, in fact, visually impaired, into a huge selling point. "We had an advantage over all of the rest of the gospel groups," says Fountain, "because you hardly ever saw a bunch of blind guys on stage in concert. That was an exciting time!"

The group began recording in 1948, and have released albums regularly since then. The Blind Boys of Alabama had gospel hits with "Oh, Lord Stand By Me" and "I Can See Everybody's Mother But I Can't See Mine" in the '50s. They didn't taste mainstream success until 1988 when they starred in the Obie Award winning Broadway musical, Gospel at Colonus.

Says Fountain, "The highest point we ever had was going back to Broadway. We took the play, Gospel at Colonus to Broadway and stayed there 15 weeks."

That exposure opened new avenues for the Blind Boys of Alabama, and brought them to a wider audience. When they toured, they played bigger, more mainstream venues. In 1994 the group was awarded the NEA National Heritage Fellowship, presented by First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Recalls Fountain, "We had always had good records, but they were only going to the black side. When we came off Broadway, we were able to go out and sing to the masses."

That they did, performing on the bill of such high profile festivals as the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the King Biscuit Blues Festival, the Beale Street Music Festival and many more. In addition, The Blind Boys of Alabama were featured on the BET series, 'On Jazz.' They even performed on the popular Fox Television show, Beverly Hills 90210.

That year also brought the group's debut on House of Blues Music Company. A live album, I Brought Him With Me showcased the group's ability to musically change with the times, while remaining true to their basic style. That is obvious on the latest HOB Music Company release, Holdin' On. From cut to cut, it takes the listener on a new inspiration experience. Beginning with the encouraging title track, from the funky "Sacrifice" to the closing tune, "The Spirit of the Lord Is Coming Down" it promises to bless hearts and souls.

Of Holdin' On, Fountain says, "We tried to get all phases of the music on the album. We've got tunes that I think will fit any audience." With Holdin' On, the Blind Boys of Alabama have succeeded.