Customer Reviews

The Ballad of Blind Tom, Slave Pianist

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Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had heard of "Blind Tom," but only after reading this compelling book as told by Deirdre O'Connell, did Tom's story come to life for me. The research and thought that went into the creation of the book are amazing -- the book provides an honest and heart-rendering account of not only one of the world's greatest musicians, but of the two worlds in which he lived - the world inside his mind - and the exploitation Tom experienced in the "outer" world, as a slave who "made it to the top" during the time of the Civil War. Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down. It touched my life in a special way -- in learning about the past I learned more about myself. This is one of the best books I've read in over a decade.

This marvelous biography of 19th Century pianist, Blind Tom, is a detailed, factual account replete with the complexity of his life and demonstrating the myriad responses to his talent. The story begins with his birth and subsequently moves through his formative years, establishing both parentage and guardianship. Using an appropriate mix of psychological description and a precise accounting of Tom's behavior, the author paints a picture of a gifted and disabled young man who brought fame upon himself and fortune upon those involved in his life.

The story of his life has all the elements of a great tale with social and political implications for today. This book is charming, balancing moments of conjecture with chronological descriptions of Blind Tom's stellar and in some ways unparalleled career. Abundant quotes demonstrating people's responses to Blind Tom's performances, as well as entertaining explanations of his style, his music, and his unique brand of showmanship make this book read like a novel. Add to these are plenty of enjoyable stories of Tom, Tom's music, and the obviously deep appreciation of his talents by the thousands who experienced his concerts.

Although this book presents information objectively, there is an underpinning of emotional content that cannot be ignored. The reader finds himself sympathizing with many of the characters, especially Blind Tom himself, and being confused with the multitude of motives behind the events of his life. Should Tom have been returned to his mother? Should or could Tom have been given more independence? Should the legal system have done something different? Is greed the primary motivation behind most exploitation? Are we guilty historically for not understanding the disabled and how to manage their problems as well as their gifts?

On several other levels, the story of Blind Tom's life is a story of slavery, racism, greed, selfishness, autism, disabilities, responsibility, human frailty, and the constant societal appeal for the brilliant and the bizarre. The book also provides insights into our history after the Civil War and the rise of the entertainment industry. Especially enjoyable are the plethora of historical figures involved in various ways in Blind Tom's career. Aside from some confusing data surrounding the music that bears his name and some hints of a personality disorder that is hard to understand, I found this book to one of the finest of its kind and worth reading by everyone. We should be very appreciative of the scholarship that went into this book, a book that deserves to be read by musicians, historians, politicians, lawyers, and teachers.

Both black history and music libraries will find compelling this true story of a black musical savant in slavery times, THE BALLAD OF BLIND TOM: AMERICA'S LOST MUSICAL GENIUS. Tom was born into slavery but was an international celebrity in New York when he died in 1908. His rise to fame and transition from a blind slave to a musical prodigy makes for a compelling story suitable for any music history collection.

Subject matter was interesting. Characters were well developed however it was like reading a research paper and redundant. Overall I enjoyed it but it was dry.