Learning how to play a musical instrument is challenging for all of us. But playing an instrument with a disability is even harder. There has been a long-lasting debate about who is the best and most famous blind piano player. We could never pick just one. So, today, we are taking a look at the top 12 most famous blind piano players.
For years, music has been considered a dicey career when it comes to both success and stability. That being said, the art of playing piano helps to inspire as well as to educate people. So how does playing the piano work when you canât see the keys? We will explore the methods visually impaired people use to learn their craft later on in this article.
There have been many piano players throughout history. This article will highlight 12 of the best blind piano players who rose to the top!
Best Blind Piano Players of All Time
Ray Charles
If you ask a crowd âWho was the best piano player who ever lived?â Iâm willing to bet that that one of the first names that will come up is Ray Charles. Ray Charles was born in the Deep South in 1930. During his lifetime he earned the titles âThe Father of Soulâ and âThe Geniusâ. That being said, he always insisted on being called Brother Ray. He was one of the most remarkable blind black piano players to walk this earth. Letâs take a look at how he made a name out of his craft.
Ray Charles had a difficult and turbulent childhood. He was not born blind; he began losing his sight at the age of 5 due to severe glaucoma. By the time he was 7 years old, he had completely lost his sight.
His mother was often ill, and his father left when he and his siblings were very young. In 1937, he began attending school at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. Here he learned how to read braille music, as well as the studied works of Mozart and Beethoven. Despite many challenges, Ray Charles went on to become an iconic musician. Some of his best hit songs include âGeorgia On My Mindâ and âHit the Road Jackâ. They have now been sung by thousands of musicians across the globe.
Stevie Wonder
Another excellent piano player is Stevie Wonder. Stevie was born in 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan. He lost his sight from retinopathy, shortly after he was born.
Stevie Wonder was a pianist who was inspired by Ray Charles. At just the age of 11, he nabbed his first record deal with a Motown label. Stevie had grown up playing musical instruments in his local church. There he learned to play the piano, harmonica, and drums. He is one of the most memorable blind piano players of all time.
His success led him to win the Presidential Medal of Freedom which was awarded to him by President Barrack Obama in 2014. Stevie Wonder is still performing. He is one of the most famous blind black piano players to ever live. If you want to learn more about him, check out his biography (https://www.biography.com/musician/stevie-wonder).
Ronnie Millsap
While many pianists are drawn to jazz and blues, this pianist made his career in country music. His name is Ronnie Milsap.
Ronnie Milsap was born in North Carolina. A congenital disorder made him blind at birth. He was abandoned by his parents when he was just an infant. He attended the Governor Moorehead School for the blind. It was at this school where his talent for music was first discovered. He began formally studying classical piano at this school.
After he studied classically, he went on to explore the genres of country, and later, pop and rock and roll. He also played the harmonica and drums and sang.
George Shearing
George Shearing was born in England in 1919. He was born blind. His family was middle-class. His mother was a cleaner, and his father was a coal miner. He started piano at three years old. He went on to become a world-famous jazz pianist.
George Shearing composed over 300 original songs. In addition to this, he was also knighted by the Queen of England in 2007. From then on he was known as Sir George Albert Shearing.
One of Shearingsâ most famous jazz standards was Lullabye of Birdland. Shearing also went on to play in the White House for 3 different presidents. George Shearing is one of the most celebrated blind piano players in the Jazz genre.
Nobuyuki Tsujii
Another talented blind pianist whoâs taken the world of music by storm is Nobuyuki Tsujii. He was born in Tokyo in 1988. Tsujii was blind at the time of his birth due to a condition known as Microphthalmia. His musicality was discovered early on. By the age of 4, he was able to play impressive melodies.
Tsujii was able to take his musical talent to great heights. He performed his debut in Carnegie Hall in 2011.
This Japanese pianist and composer has released a number of albums, which have gone on to win multiple awards. His music has earned the Taylor Smith Award. He has also won the 15th International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition and many more.
Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli is another impressive singer and pianist. He suffered from congenital glaucoma and lost his sight completely at the age of 12.
Also, Andrea Bocelli earned a Law degree from the University of Pisa. He often performed in piano bars. Andrea made his musical breakthrough in 1993 when a talent agent heard him sing and play.
His musical career really kicked off after he teamed up with some of the best voices in the industry, such as with Sarah Brightman and Luciano Pavarotti. Andrea Bocelli is one of the blind piano players who everyone knows. Next time youâre listening to music, check out some of his performances with his daughter- The music they make together is both endearing and stunning.
Art Tatum
If you like jazz, you have to listen to some Art Tatum. Art Tatum was a blind black musician who grew up in Toledo, Ohio. He was visually impaired in his right eye and completely blind in his left.
Tatum went to the Toledo School of Music. However, Tatum found himself preferring to learn to play jazz by ear, rather than learning classical with braille notation. After winning a competition, local radio stations began featuring his music. Although little is known about Art Tatum, it is clear that he was a legend. Tatumâs music went on to win the Grammyâs Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989.
Moondog
Louis Hardin, or, Moondog, was a pianist, poet, and composer. While he is not as well known as Stevie Wonder or Ray Charles, he should be.
Moondog lost his sight at the age of 16 after a tragic accident with dynamite.
He first mastered music by learning to play by ear. He also learned the art of music theory by using Braille. Moondogâs music took inspiration from everything from jazz to street noises. His compositions are known for their brilliant counterpoint. Moondog chose to live in the streets. When he lived in New York, he dressed up as a Viking and went busking (street performing). Thus he became known as the Viking of Sixth Avenue.
He lived a unique and successful life.
Jeff Healey
Jeff Healey is another jazz pianist that makes our top twelve list. He was born and raised in Canada. Jeff lost his eyesight at the age of 1. He started playing music at the age of 3.
An interesting fact about him is that he also played guitar. He played the guitar with the instrument on his lap. Healeyâs unique style of playing both the guitar and the piano eventually made him one of the most popular musicians of his time.
Diane Schuur
Diane Schuur is an established contemporary jazz artist. Diane was born in 1953. She lost her sight at a young age due to retinopathy.
She was born and raised in a musical environment. Her dad was both an amature pianist and a policeman. Diane started learning how to play the piano by playing by ear.
Diane is both a famous blind pianist as well as a singer. Her voice is known for being electric. Diane is a composer and pianist who has mastered the art of Jazz and harnessed the power of rhythm. Diane has won many accolades and is one of the few blind female piano players who has risen to fame.
Blind Willie Johnson
Willie Johnson is one of the most famous musicians and blind piano players of the 20th century. Blind Willie Johnson was a Gospel/Blues musician born and raised in Marlin, Texas. It is not known for certain how Willie Johnson went blind. Some speculate that it was due to viewing a lunar eclipse in 1905, while others suggest his mother blinded him with lye.
Live was not simple for this blind black singer; Willieâs initial musical career was as a street musician. Then, in 1927, he got married and became a Baptist Preacher. He later released a gospel album with Colombia Records. He took the Gospel genre by storm and continued performing until 1940.
Willie passed on in 1945 due to Pneumonia. But his legacy of being one of the best blind piano players still lives on. His extraordinary works of art continue to be celebrated. In 2018, one of his best hit songs âIts Nobodyâs Fault but Mineâ was featured on the soundtrack of the videogame Fallout 76.
Joaquin Rodrigo
Joaquin Rodrigo was a composer and pianist/ multi-instrumentalist from Spain. He became blind during early childhood due to complications from Diphtheria. During his career, Joaquin confessed that his blindness was what initially drew him to music.
Joaquin began his musical career when he was only 8 years old. This is when he learned how to play the piano and violin. He also excelled at solfege. He studied music in Paris under the tutelage of Dukas. By the age of 20, he had become an established musician.
In 1933 Joaquin Rodrigo married Victoria Kamhi. She was also an excellent pianist. In 1991, he was even declared to be nobility by the King of Spain.
Some of Joaquinâs most famous works include his Concierto de Aranjuez, as well as Concierto Pastorle (which was composed for James Galway). Joaquin Rodrigoâs music continues to live on today.
Music Tips For a Blind Piano Player
Do you aspire to become a professional pianist? Here are some tips that will help you to become famous:
- Explore braille music resources
- Go to a local library
- Put yourself out there
Did you know that braille music was invented alongside regular braille? Braille was created by Louis Braille. Louis was an organist. He had originally worked leather for his father, until, one day, while using an awl, pieces of his work flew into his eye. This, consequently, lead to infection, and then, his blindness.
Ironically enough, Louis went on to use an awl to create braille and braille music. Braille music works like this: The first dots at the beginning on the top staff, denote the clef type. From here, each section of six dots represents the note and its rhythm. As you can imagine, sightreading can prove difficult while reading braille music. Local libraries often have braille books and audiobooks, as well as CDs. I know that mine does. Listening to music intently is another way to learn a piece.
Put yourself out there! This is the best (and simplest) tip to get any musical traction. Make a Tiktok, make an Instagram. Have a friend or family member serve as your photographer or videographer. Remember, differences are to be celebrated. If you have gone through the process of learning how to read braille music or play by ear, you might as well share your talents with the world!
Celebrating Blind Piano Players: Closing Thoughts
I hope youâve enjoyed this guide of the 12 most famous blind piano players of all time, and that you continue to be inspired to learn more about them. Musicians from Louis Braille to Stevie Wonder to Art Tatum all drastically changed the way music is today. Do you aspire to be a famous pianist too? Then let this list of greats serve as your inspiration. And, if youâre in the market for a piano, donât forget to check out our guides and reviews the next time you visit our blog!
