Blind Boone

"Blind Boone Piano Prodigy" is a triumphant biographical telling of the life story of one of the most accomplished, and most neglected, American composers and musicians. John William Boone, born during the final months of the American Civil War, and blind from the age of six months, was once a household name in the United States. Never rightfully acknowledged as the true Father of Ragtime, Boone nevertheless toured major cities in the United States and Canada as a concert pianist, wrote countless original compositions and arrangements in folk and classical style, and was most famous for his ability to accurately recreate any composition at the piano after only one hearing.The task of placing this remarkable story in the hands of young readers would be daunting at best. For award-winning author Madge Harrah, it has obviously been a labour of love. She has been acquainted with the legend and lore of Boone since her college years, and she has remained involved in the legacy of his amazing life across the decades. This hardcover volume is her gift to children everywhere: the story of a youngster who could have allowed the stigma of his ethnicity and his disability to turn him into a bitter young man, but who instead chose to rise to new heights of achievement which were only being dreamed of in this young country for African-Americans in the years following the Civil War.Harrah's writing style is engaging and moving; she is a natural storyteller and has a knack for placing the reader in the context of the story without the endless explications which often clutter historical books for young readers. From his early years of learning to cope with blindness whilst falling in love with music, through his exciting years as a touring concert pianist, Harrah weaves an exciting story which proves the old adage that truth is often stranger than fiction. There is no trace of pity in her writing, nor should there be; the motto of Boone's music company was "Merit, Not Sympathy, Wins." An added bonus is the opening Author's Note and Postcript in which Harrah shares her personal story of discovering Boone through his last manager, Wayne B. Allen, and of her continuing fascination with this American music legend. Released in a beautiful edition by CarolRhoda Books, the volume is amply illustrated with photos, many of which were taken by the author's husband. Although "Blind Boone Piano Prodigy" is geared to young readers, it will be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a terrific addition to the small but growing library of material newly available on John William 'Blind' Boone.