History has a habit of overlooking remarkable people. While names like Scott Joplin have become synonymous with the birth of ragtime, another pioneering musician helped shape America’s musical identity long before recordings could preserve his brilliance.
John William “Blind” Boone was more than a gifted pianist. He was an entertainer, composer and touring concert artist whose extraordinary talent captivated audiences across the country despite the barriers of blindness and racial segregation.
That forgotten legacy takes center stage in “Boone Plays It Back,” the debut single from Blind Boone the Musical, an ambitious new work by Kansas City composer and jazz organist Ken Lovern. Rather than offering a straightforward history lesson, Lovern delivers something far more engaging: a theatrical invitation into Boone’s world where music becomes both spectacle and storytelling.
