Southern Soul Music Comes to San Antonio

November 21, 2008 ·  Grammy-winning gospel music and traditional New Orleans jazz combine to make in a celebration of southern music.

"We sing straight form the soul so people can feel what we're doing and we give it all we've got."

That's  Ricky McKinney, long-time drummer for the Blind Boys, a group that's been playing together since 1939.  Don't let the name fool you. Though the musicians are, in fact, blind, they're not in any way impaired.  McKinney says loss of sight isn't the point, as long as you've got soul.

"We might have lost our sight, but we never lost our direction.  It's not about what you can't do its about what you can do and  that's what makes it all worthwhile."

Joining them is a group that's been going since the 60s and who got their name from an historic New Orleans venue built in the 18th century.

"The Preservation Hall Jazz Band got it's name from Preservation Hall, a hole in the wall in the heart of the French Quarter," says Ben Jaffe, creative direction for the band.

His parents produced the first jam sessions that grew into showcasing the unique jazz sounds of New Orleans.

"The music we play is rooted in New Orleans, and I always tell people, and what I tell people is in New Orleans is a place where we're taking having fun very seriously."