Live Performance: The Blind Boys help Marc Cohn revisit "Memphis"

Share this article

(June 4, 2019) Undoubtedly one of the most infectious songs of the 90s was Marc Cohn’s piano-driven tour of the home of the blues, Memphis, Tennessee. “Walking In Memphis” became a huge smash and Cohn’s signature song.

The Blind Boys of Alabama first rose to fame in the segregated south with their thrilling vocal harmonies and roof-raising live show. They released their debut single on the iconic Veejay label in 1948, launching a 70-year recording career that would see them rack up five Grammy Awards (plus one for Lifetime Achievement), enter the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, collaborate with everyone from Mavis Staples and Stevie Wonder to Prince and Lou Reed, and perform on the world's most prestigious stages.

On August 9, Cohn and the Blind Boys will release a collaboration called Work to Do, via BMG. Produced by John Leventhal, the album combines a handful of studio tracks with live performances together.

…

Of course, it includes a stirring take on “Walking In Memphis,” recorded at a taping of the PBS show, The Kate. While we would have liked to hear more of the Blind Boys in the song, it is a cool collab nonetheless. "Walking In Memphis" is our newest Live Performance of the Week. Check it out below, and welcome these two great individual acts, now brought together.

Blind Boys of Alabama/Marc Cohn 2019 Tour Dates

June 7 – East Providence, RI – Bold Point Park *^
June 8 – Cohasset, MA – South Shore Music Circus *
June 9 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom *^
June 11 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount *^
June 13 – Wilkes Barre, PA – F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts *^
June 14 – Staten Island, NY – St. George Theatre *
June 15 – Atlantic City, NJ – Harrah’s Atlantic City *^
June 17 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theatre *^
June 18 – Cleveland Heights, OH – Cain Park *^
June 19 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center at The Heights *^
June 21 – Rock Hill, SC – Old Town Amphitheater *^
June 22 – Peachtree City, GA – Frederick Brown Jr Amphitheater *^
June 25 – Rochester, NY – Rochester International Jazz Festival
August 12 – Boulder, CO – Chautauqua Auditorium #
August 13 – Park City, UT – Eccles Performing Arts Center #
August 15 – Seattle, WA – Woodland Park Zoo #
August 16 – Portland, OR – Oregon Zoo #
August 17 – Jacksonville, OR – Britt Festival Pavilion #
August 20 – Saratoga, CA – Mountain Winery #

* - co bill with Robert Cray
^ - with special guest appearance/opener Shemekia Copeland
# - co bill with Taj Mahal