Customer Reviews

Some Kind of Genius: The Extraordinary Journey of Musical Savant Tony DeBlois

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The book not only takes you on the journey of Mr. DeBlois's life and accomplishments, it explains the complexities of his "disabilities" along the way. I had the pleasure of meeting the family and I heard Tony's one-man concert. Too bad it wasn't longer. I would've stayed because it was riveting, beautiful and the man performs from the deepest corners of his heart. I recommend the book to parents of autistic or asperger's syndrome children, even if they are not musical, artistic or a math genius. Ms. DeBlois two sons, both born with these similar disabilities, were raised to bypass all the obstacles and develop the gifts with which they were blessed.

Great story, poorly written. I was excited to find this story. I read a third of it and had yet to read anything about Tony's amazing abilities. I knew all about his ancestors, etc., and family stories before he ever came along, but I wanted to read about HIM.

I don't think I can exaggerate how poorly this book is written. A most ordinary account of an extraordinary person.

DON'T BUY THIS BOOK.

In 1976 Stevie Wonder said that "music is a language we all understand." That true statement beautifully underscores this wonderful biography of Tony DeBlois, a gifted musician who has autism, is blind and had developmental delays. Tony's story is a Song in the Key of Life.

Tony DeBlois' story is indeed like that Who classic a fantastic journey. His story begins in South Dakota with his equally incredible and indomitable mother, Janice. In 1964, Janice, then 18 married the brother of the man she was in love with. By the time she learned the truth, her daughter Sonja Louise was on the way. Born in February 1965, Sonja Louise suffered from congenital hydrocephaly and a myriad of health problems. Sadly, she died in November, 1965. Around that time, Janice's first marriage did as well.

Janice re-enrolled in schools and by the close of the decade met Owen Mooney. They married on September 6, 1969. Tony was born on January 22, 1973. Tony, like Sonja Louise was born with congenital health concerns as well. He had a heart condition; was premature; could not see; had sepsis and elevated bilirubin levels in his blood and would later display developmental delays.

Janice worked tirelessly with Tony, who also had autism. He also had severe meltowns that lasted for several hours. On a whim, she bought Tony a toy organ at a garage sale. Tony, then 2 was enthralled with it. He immediately began picking out tunes and before long, this musical toddler was never far from his beloved organ. His autism was diagnosed at this time and Janice never stopped her quest for appropriate programs for Tony, including one in a school in New Mexico when they were living in El Paso, Texas.

On July 29 1979, Tony's brother Ralph (later Ray) was born. Ray also had congenital problems such as Klinefelter's Syndrome (XXY chromosomes) and Asperger's, a form of autism. Unlike Tony, whose speech remained marginal for years until music gave him the keys to his voice, Ray was quite fluent in speech. Like Tony, Ray was a late talker. Tony was at that time attending the El Paso Institute until Janice was able to secure a place for him at the School for the Blind & Visually Impaired in Austin. Winning legal battles with the school district, she secured that place for Tony together with an arrangement with Continental Airlines to fly him to Austin for school and home for weekends. Thanks to Janice, Tony's story about his musical prowess and regular trips to Austin would make the local news. He also charmed patrons and shoppers alike in an El Paso music store with his piano playing prowess.

Shortly after Ray's birth, Owen walked out on the family and Janice worked hard to raise two boys with very different types of autism and other special needs. By 1981 she went to Boston for work and from December, 1981 until April, 1982 the boys stayed with family including Owen in South Dakota until Janice was able to find a place for them all to live in Boston. She also wanted Tony enrolled in the Perkins Institute for the Blind where Helen Keller once attended.

By the spring of 1983, Janice and the boys were firmly established in Boston. Ray, unlike Tony had severe behavioral issues including fire starting and running with a questionable group. At 11, Ray became quite gullible where peers were concerned and would do whatever other kids told him. Tony remained a shining star in the music world.

On June 18, 1988 Janice married for the third time to Tom DeBlois, who adopted her sons. Ralph legally became Ray at that time and remained attached to Tom, even when that marriage ended. Tony, meanwhile, flourished in the 1980s. By 1989, he was enrolled in the Berklee College undergraduate program and was under the tutelage of John LaPorta (1920-2004). The gifted jazz musician was floored by the young man who could not see and who still displayed some autistic behaviors and pronounced him one of the most talented artists he had ever known. In 1992, Tony became quite well known throughout the Boston area and was a student at Berklee.

This is a beautiful story of how music can literally transform lives. I think of a line Ringo uttered in the Beatles' movie "Yellow Submarine" that "nothing is Beatle Proof." In an extension of that sentiment, I think that nothing is music proof. Music, like piano keys proved to be the keys to Tony's speech; his independence and in time his ticket to the world. He has been featured on many shows and in recent years has traveled around the world giving concerts. His CDs reveal piano playing that is nothing short of outstanding. Tony is not only a virtuoso of music; he is a Virtuoso of claiming his Voice.

His voice and his story are ones people want to hear.

Some good companion books are Blind Tom, the Black Pianist-Composer (1849-1908): Continually Enslaved and Rex: A Mother, Her Autistic Child, and the Music that Transformed Their Lives, These books feature two other piano virtuosos who could not see and who also had autism.

this is an incredible story, and when I interviewed tony and his mother, janice, one of the two authors to this book, they were both extremely nice and are very patient. I really appreciate everything they do.

I became aware of this extraordinary young man through a chance meeting with Bo Winiker in Boston while attending the Chris Botti and Friends: Live In Boston PBS taping. Bo sent me Tony's cd and I immediately ordered this book. This talented pianist has defied all odds and, through the persistence of his mother and mentors like Mr. Winiker, graduated from the prestigious Berklee School of Music and has performed all around the world. Here is a fascinating look at savant syndrome and a story well worth reading. Make sure you check out the cd Some Kind Of Genius also.

This is an amazing story about a highly talented man, Tony Deblois. To fully understand his talent and the reality of his achievments, buy his CD from www.cdfreedom/com or contact his mother in Boston.