AIDB Mourns Loss of Blind Boys’ Clarence Fountain
AIDB Mourns Loss of Blind Boys’ Clarence Fountain
The life of Blind Boys of Alabama originating member and AIDB alumnus, Clarence Fountain was celebrated at Promised Land Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana yesterday. Fountain died last week.
Clarence lost his eyesight at the age of two and arrived at AIDB’s Alabama School for the Negro Blind in 1937 from his home in Tyler. He came from a farming family of seven children. At school he learned Braille and history but, like several of his classmates, music, piano and voice claimed his heart. “I liked singing and that was the real deal,” he said once. “I never wanted to do anything else.”
Music formed lasting bonds and friendship for Clarence and his classmates and in 1939, Clarence along with George Scott, Jimmy Carter and several of their classmates began playing and singing together. In June of 1944 the group left school and embarked on a life changing adventure. Clarence was only 14 years old.
Clarence and the Blind Boys became known and admired worldwide, winning multiple Grammy and other musical performance awards. He, along with Jimmy Carter and George Scott, returned on several occasions to AIDB to perform and to recall some of the struggles they experienced in growing up and building their career. They most recently performed at the dedication of the Alabama School for the Blind’s Landreth Music Center and in 2008 received AIDB’s Lifetime Achievement Award as one of the Institute’s most accomplished alumni.
“Today at AIDB we talk about the limitless potential and talent of our students,” said AIDB President Dr. John Mascia. “But that is a message that transcends generations of students who have demonstrated their passion and determination to live the life they imagine. Clarence Fountain never stopped pursuing his dream and he gave us and the world at least two very special gifts. One was his inspiring and unforgettable gift of music. The second gift is a reminder that despite the challenges of his life Clarence Fountain was truly limitless in living his life to the fullest. He will not be forgotten.”