Such a thrill: Marc Cohn with the Blind Boys of Alabama
Marc Cohn’s music has always had traces of blues and soul, so it’s no surprise gospel vocal group the Blind Boys of Alabama are a perfect fit for the folk-rocker’s music. The recent collaborators, performing with co-headliners the Robert Cray Band at Rose Music Center in Huber Heights on Wednesday, June 19, will release the joint album, “Work to Do,” on Aug. 9.
The project was pro- duced by John Leventhal and features seven live songs from a taping of the PBS series, “The Kate.” The album also features three studio songs, a version of the gospel standard, “Walk in Jerusalem,” and two new originals.
Cohn recently shared his thoughts on working with the iconic singers.
Making a connection: “I co-wrote a bunch of songs on an album by William Bell
Naturally organic: “To have this collaborative record is particularly gratifying. I’m really proud of it. It wasn’t really the next record I was thinking about releasing, it just happened organically. We were originally going to do an EP with two or three studio tracks. Then we did this PBS special and some of those tunes sounded so good we decided to add that to the EP and suddenly back home.” it was an actual album. It
Creating special unfolded in a very natural moments: “A lot of peo- way and that’s part of why ple are packaged together it works.” on tour but they don’t play Work to do: “It’s always together. That’s always a thrill to work with the disappointing. I want to Blind Boys. I contributed hear people do something to a couple of their records unusual so when there’s a and now to have a whole package put together by an album coming out together agent or an artist, I always has taken this collaboration make sure we do at least a full circle. I wasn’t expectcouple of songs together ing it but it’s one of the highbecause that chance to hear lights of my career.” something they wouldn’t hear anywhere else is partly what the audience came for.”
www.marccohnmusic.com and that was thrilling. His manager also manages the Blind Boys so I was invited to co-write some songs on their last record. That was wonderful. One of the songs got nominated for a Grammy as well so it has been fruitful, successful, spiritual and very fulfilling to work with those gentle- men. I’ve always loved gospel music for reasons I can’t even articulate and to be able to have the Blind Boys on shows with me and on record just brings my love for that music all the way donthrasher100@