Clarence Fountain An original member of the Blind Boys of Alabama, Clarence Fountain, 88 has passed away. Fountain branched off from the group for a while. In 1969 he ventured into a solo career. Initially managed by the late Ray Charles, the Blind Boys of Alabama are credited with influencing early R&B. Never wanting to completely abandon his roots, Fountain later rejoined the group and toured with them until diabetes prevented him. Working with fellow Blind Boys' alumnus and mentee Sam Butler , they released the album Stepping Up & Stepping Out, combining both gospel and secular on Tyscot Records in 2009. According to his manager, Charles Driebe Fountain died in Baton Rouge, LA hospital on Sunday, June 3.