The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators.

They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions; the group helped to define those traditions in 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st.

Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in the late 1930s, the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world.

On "Almost Home" the sole surviving original members, 87-year-old Clarence Fountain and 85-year-old Jimmy Carter mixed covers by the likes of Bob Dylan and Billy Joe Shaver with newly penned compositions from a variety of songwriters.

Among those who contributed songs were North Mississippi Allstars, Marc Cohn, Valerie June, Phil Cook, John Leventhal, Randall Bramblett, Ruthie Foster, Cris Jacobs and others.

Fountain and Carter each received co-writing credits as well. Sessions were held with a variety of producers including with Leventhal in New York City, with Chris Goldsmith in Seattle, with Vance Powell in Nashville Los Lobos' Steve Berlin at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.