Music of Thomas Wiggins and John William Boone, Blind Black Pianists, at Strathmore Jan. 29

[John Davis Plays Blind Tom, Newport Classic 85660 (1999)]

Strathmore.org

A Celebration of the Piano: John Davis, piano - Music of Blind Tom and Blind Boone

Presented by Strathmore

Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 7:30 PM

Mansion 

“Born a slave, Blind Tom Wiggins possessed a rare gift for the piano. His masters fully exploited his talent, earning thousands from his performances. John William Boone, also born blind, 'wore out 16 pianos' in his lifetime, according to legend. Pianist John Davis, whose recording of Blind Tom’s works received glowing reviews, prompting him to record his recently released album of the music of Blind Boone, recreates two fascinating chapters in American musical history.” [Thomas “Blind Tom” Wiggins (1849-1908) was blind and autistic, but his musical genius marveled audiences in the U.S. and Europe, earning a huge income for his owners and managers. Almost none of the concert proceeds went to Tom. Wiggins died at the home of his manager in Hoboken, New Jersey at the age of 59. An authoritative biography is Blind Tom, The Black Pianist-Composer: Continually Enslaved; Geneva Handy Southall; Scarecrow Press (2002). Dr. Dominique-René de Lerma, Professor of Music at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, has contributed a comprehensive Works List and Bibliography for the Thomas Wiggins page at AfriClassical.com]

A Celebration of the Piano
Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins
John Davis, piano
Dr. Dominique-René de Lerma
John William Boone
Blind Autistic Musical Genius