Re: MMDigest 01.10.19

I heard a catchy piano-roll sound of a song. It was called the "Cyclone
Gallop", and was on a PBS program called "Life360".   I too was as
excited as when I first heard  Gottschalk, so  I taped the 15 minute
segment on a late-night replay.

The pianist, who devoted 3 years researching the life of the Slave,
Blind-Tom, (born blind, to a slave Chastity Wiggens, owned by a General
Bethune. is John Davis.  John Davis plays in Tom's style, and tells
his story.  Tom's talent appeared by the age 3, and the slave was
taught by good teachers.

He was leased out for three years, for $15,ooo to an Impresario, a
Mr. Oliver, who  merchandised him well.  In the 1870's he performed at
the Springer Opera House (Columbus, Georgia) and earned $100,000 per
year!  He was became semi-freed, by a court assigning a different
guardian, but he refused to play for him and repetitioned the court to
be, but returned to General Bethune, as guardian.    He wrote many good
songs, over a long career.