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Ever heard of John William “Blind” Boone? Yeah, me neither until I stumbled across his story. Turns out this guy was basically a musical genius who lived right here in Missouri, and somehow most of us have never heard of him.
So John was born in 1864 in Miami, Missouri. His mom Rachel was a contraband slave, his dad William was a soldier. When John was just six months old, he got brain fever and lost his sight completely. Not exactly the easiest start in life.
But this is where things get wild.
The Kid Who Couldn’t Stop Making Music
John was one of those kids who just couldn’t stop making music. He’d bang out rhythms with sticks, played tin whistle #ad, got hold of a mouth organ. #ad His neighbors probably figured out pretty quick that this wasn’t normal kid stuff.
So they sent him to the School for the Blind in St. Louis to learn broom-making. But John kept ditching his lessons to play piano. The school got tired of it and kicked him out.
From Street Corners to Concert Halls
After that, John ended up playing on the streets of St. Louis for money. He made his way back to Warrensburg, where John Lange Jr. heard him play and decided to become his manager. John ended up marrying Lange’s sister Eugenia in 1889.
The Sound That Changed Everything
Here’s the cool part about Boone’s music: he wasn’t trying to fit into any box. While everyone else was playing either classical or folk, John was mixing African American rhythms with European classical structures, throwing in some syncopation that would later explode as ragtime.
Sound familiar? That’s because you’ve been hearing his influence your whole life. We all know Scott Joplin as the “King of Ragtime,” #ad but historians are finally giving Boone credit as one of the genre’s true pioneers. He was creating this sound before it even had a name.
A House That Tells Stories
Want to see where this legend lived? The Blind Boone Home at 10 N. 4th Street in Columbia is absolutely stunning. We’re talking about a gorgeous Victorian mansion, built in 1893, owned by an African-American man in turn-of-the-century Missouri.
Think about what that meant back then. This wasn’t just a nice house – it was a statement.
The National Park Service agreed, putting it on the National Register of Historic Places. But here’s what makes it even cooler: it’s not just sitting there gathering dust.
More Than Just History
You can definitely take a guided tour and soak up all that history, but the Blind Boone Home is still very much alive. They host weddings, corporate events, and all sorts of gatherings. How awesome is it that a place with this much history is still bringing people together?
Read more about John Boone with this Missouri Heritage Readers Blind Boone: Missouri’s Ragtime Pioneer
It’s also a key stop on Columbia’s African-American Heritage Trail, sitting right next to the historic Second Missionary Baptist Church (also built in 1893). You can easily spend a whole afternoon exploring this incredible piece of our past.
Free Download: Want to take Boone’s story with you?
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Why This Matters Today
John Boone basically helped create the sound of American music, but most people have never heard of him. Pretty crazy when you think about it.
You should check out his house when you’re in Columbia and learn more about this talented man. It’s at 10 N. 4th Street, and they do tours, so check their website for hours. You might be surprised what you learn.
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