大象传媒

In the early 20th Century, a generation of musicians redefined the life experience of black and of disabled Americans. Drawing on the indignities of slavery and segregation, Blind 鈥淲illie鈥� McTell, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller and the Reverend Gary Davis, among many others, first earned a living playing on the streets, before taking their distinctive blues sound into the recording studio. Many of them became big stars and some were lucky enough to enjoy a second period of success in the folk-blues renaissance of the 1960s.

Their blindness was no coincidence. The disability was seen by many in wider society as a curse, a belief which reduced their chances of earning a conventional living 鈥� already hampered by being black in a severely segregated country 鈥� even further. And for the poor, with no access to health care, relatively minor conditions such as conjunctivitis could lead to loss of sight. Music was a means of feeding the family and the influence of these modern pioneers can still be heard today.

As a blind person himself, 大象传媒 correspondent, Gary O鈥橠onoghue was eager to find out more about the music and the men responsible for a musical revolution.

Produced by Lee Kumutat who is also blind, as is the sound engineer who mixed it, Peter Bosher.

(Photo: Gary O鈥橠onoghue crouches by the headstone of Blind Willie McTell)