Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
In Memoriam: John Hammond Jr., 1942–2026
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
The Blind Boys of Alabama will tour the U.S. this fall in support of their new album Higher Ground (Real World Records). They will play dates across the
country including shows at the House of Blues in L.A. on Sept. 18, an appearance at this year’s Austin City Limits Festival held on Sept. 28, as well as two performances in New York City at the at the 2002 Jammy Awards on October 2, and the Bowery Ballroom on Oct. 3. In addition to this extensive fall tour, the Blind Boys will be the subject of a profile by Dan Rather on the season premier of 60 Minutes II, scheduled to air Sept. 25. They will also appear on the Late Show with David Letterman on Oct. 28 performing new material from Higher Ground.
Higher Ground combines new Blind Boys takes on traditional material with distinctive covers of songs by Prince, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, Funkadelic, Jimmy Cliff and Ben Harper. Building on the success of last year’s Grammy winning album Spirit Of The Century, Higher Ground captures the energy of the Blind Boys’ dynamic live performances.
The Blind Boys of Alabama will continue to tour well into 2003, with these dates to be announced soon. Current tour dates are:
Sept. 1: Genoa, Nev., Sierra Starlight Amphitheater Sept 2.: Sausalito, Calif., Sausalito Arts Festival Sept. 12: Boulder, Colo., The Fox Theater Sept 14 & 15, Telluride, Colo., Telluride Blues and Brews Festival Sept. 17: San Juan Capistrano, Calif., The Coach House Sept. 19: West Hollywood, Calif., House of Blues Sept. 20: Bishop, Calif., Millpond Music Festival Sept. 22: West Sacramento, Calif., Riverwalk Park Sept. 24: Chicago, Symphony Center Sept. 26: Memphis, Tenn., Memphis Botanic Gardens Sept. 28: Austin, Texas, Austin City Limits Festival Oct. 2: New York, The Jammy Awards Oct. 3: New York, Bowery Ballroom Oct. 4: Glenside, Pa., The Keswick Theater Nov. 2: New Orleans, Voodoo Music Experience
Hammond came to the blues through the folk boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which he experienced firsthand in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
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