John William Boone
Encyclopedia
John William "Blind" Boone (May 17, 1864 – October 4, 1927) was an American pianist
and composer of ragtime
music.
, May 17, 1864, to a contraband slave, Rachel Carpenter, who had been owned by descendants of Daniel Boone
. His father was a bugler in the 7th Missouri State Militia Cavalry (Union). Doctors removed both of Boone's eyes when he was six months old in an attempt to cure his brain fever
. He grew up in Warrensburg, Missouri
, where Camp Grover was the headquarters of the 7th MSM at the end of the Civil War.
Boone had musical talent that was recognizable at a remarkably young age. Because of this, his hometown of Warrensburg decided to make sure that Boone received an education and paid for him to attend the St. Louis School for the Blind in 1872 to study piano. After growing bored with his experience there, Boone’s rule breaking habits got him expelled. He returned to Warrensburg where he began playing with local musicians. In 1880, Boone had the honor of playing on a concert given by famous pianist, Blind Tom. The fame he received from this performance ignited his professional career. Boone died of acute deflation of the heart on October 4, 1927 in Warrensburg. He was buried at the Columbia Cemetery (Columbia, Missouri).
, Canada
, and Mexico
.
The home of Blind Boone still exists in Columbia, Missouri
. In 2000, the City of Columbia purchased the home and it is currently undergoing restoration. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
The John William Boone Heritage Foundation was founded to preserve the history of Blind Boone and to elaborate the important role Missouri played in the development of Ragtime and early Jazz
music.
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and composer of ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
music.
Early life
Boone was born in a Federal militia camp near Miami, MissouriMiami, Missouri
Miami is a city in Saline County, Missouri, United States. The population was 160 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Miami is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000,...
, May 17, 1864, to a contraband slave, Rachel Carpenter, who had been owned by descendants of Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone was an American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman whose frontier exploits mad']'e him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of...
. His father was a bugler in the 7th Missouri State Militia Cavalry (Union). Doctors removed both of Boone's eyes when he was six months old in an attempt to cure his brain fever
Brain fever
Brain fever describes a medical condition where a part of the brain becomes inflamed and causes symptoms that present as fever. The terminology is dated, and is encountered most often in Victorian literature...
. He grew up in Warrensburg, Missouri
Warrensburg, Missouri
Warrensburg is a city in Johnson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 16,340 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Johnson County. The Warrensburg Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Johnson County. It is home to the University of Central Missouri.-History:Warrensburg...
, where Camp Grover was the headquarters of the 7th MSM at the end of the Civil War.
Boone had musical talent that was recognizable at a remarkably young age. Because of this, his hometown of Warrensburg decided to make sure that Boone received an education and paid for him to attend the St. Louis School for the Blind in 1872 to study piano. After growing bored with his experience there, Boone’s rule breaking habits got him expelled. He returned to Warrensburg where he began playing with local musicians. In 1880, Boone had the honor of playing on a concert given by famous pianist, Blind Tom. The fame he received from this performance ignited his professional career. Boone died of acute deflation of the heart on October 4, 1927 in Warrensburg. He was buried at the Columbia Cemetery (Columbia, Missouri).
Professional career
Boone played thousands of concerts in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Legacy
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
. In 2000, the City of Columbia purchased the home and it is currently undergoing restoration. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The John William Boone Heritage Foundation was founded to preserve the history of Blind Boone and to elaborate the important role Missouri played in the development of Ragtime and early Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music.
Biographies
- Blind Boone, His Early Life and Achievements, Fuell, Melissa, Burton Publishing Company, Kansas City, Missouri 1915
- Blind Boone: Missouri's Ragtime Pioneer, Batterson, Jack A. ISBN 0-8262-1198-4
- Blind Boone: Piano Prodigy, Harrah, Madge ISBN 1-57505-057-9
See also
- John W. Boone HouseJohn W. Boone HouseThe John W. Boone House in Columbia, Missouri was the home of ragtime musician John William 'Blind' Boone. The home, which is owned by the City of Columbia, had fallen into a state of severe disrepair, but is now under restoration -References:...
- The Blind Boone home in Columbia, Missouri - Scott JoplinScott JoplinScott Joplin was an American composer and pianist. Joplin achieved fame for his ragtime compositions, and was later dubbed "The King of Ragtime". During his brief career, Joplin wrote 44 original ragtime pieces, one ragtime ballet, and two operas...
- Ragtime composer and pianist