Blind Pianists?

does anyone know of any pianists, or musicians (apart from du pre (i tihnk thats the spelling)) that are completley blind?

Well, Stevie Wonder springs to mind...he plays the piano among a slew of other instruments, but his musical style may not be exactly what you had in mind. It might come down to taste, I suppose.

My own opinion is that he is a genius, though. Blindness often heightens the remaining senses, and this comes through quite clearly in his music, with regards particularly to harmony and tone colour.

Well, Stevie Wonder springs to mind...he plays the piano among a slew of other instruments, but his musical style may not be exactly what you had in mind. It might come down to taste, I suppose.

My own opinion is that he is a genius, though. Blindness often heightens the remaining senses, and this comes through quite clearly in his music, with regards particularly to harmony and tone colour.

Have you heard him play drums? He's amazing

As for blind pianists

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

That should help a little bit :)

I know lots of pianists that are completely unable to keep a steady tempo or follow a conductor... does that count?

I got to see Ray Charles play in OKC before he died. It was amazing! He started one song that had a long piano intro and then the band comes in later. It sounded fine, until the band came in- because they were playing in two different keys. The conductor stopped the band and the assistant came over and tested the piano. The whole time you can hear Ray and him talking via the hot mic. It went something like this:

Assistant: The piano has been transposed.

RC: How the hell did that happen?

Assistant: Maybe the wrong button got pushed.

*They have the alto sax player play a concert A and test against the piano. It is off*

CR: Oh hell, I just play it in another key then!

*Crowd begins to laugh and applaud. Ray Charles begins to play the same intro in a new key and the band comes in and it rocked.*

He didn't even bat an eye. This is why I think he was a genius...among other reasons.

Oh and Art Tatum is pretty rad, if you like jazz. Check him out as well. He isn't completely blind, but close enough. :)

Lennie Tristano

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I'm pretty sure Jacqueline du Pr

I'm pretty sure Jacqueline du Pr

Ray Charles baby! That's what I think of when I hear blind. (oxymoron btw)

And bach went blind, but did he still play organ after that? I'm not sure.