The Original Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi

The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi | Discogs | tc735

The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi were founded in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1936 and were originally four singers: Archie Brownlee, Joseph Ford, Lawrence "Shorty" Abrams and Lloyd Lee Woodward, who may not be the line up pictured above. They were originally known as The Cotton Blossom Singers, and formed while they were attending the Piney Woods Country Life School. In 1951 their recording of “Our Father” with Brownlee singing lead entered the US R&B top ten, the first gospel recording to do so.

Archie Brownlee was born in Perry County, Mississippi on 25 October 1925 and died in New Orleans, Louisiana from pneumonia on 8 February 1960.

Joseph Ford was born on 4 December 1916 but is otherwise undocumented.

Lawrence Abrams died in South Carolina in August 1982 but is otherwise undocumented.

Lloyd Lee Woodward died in June or July 1973 but is otherwise undocumented.

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Chess Records 80

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