The Remarkable Story of Blind Tom Wiggins, the Blind Musical Prodigy.

Blind Tom Wiggins was an African-American pianist and composer who was born into slavery in Georgia in 1849. He was renowned for his incredible musical talent, which included the ability to play complex pieces after hearing them only once.

However, his legacy is also marked by the exploitation and racism he faced throughout his life.

Early Life and Musical Talent

Thomas Greene, who later became known as Blind Tom Wiggins, was born on the Wiley Edward Jones Plantation in Harris County, Georgia. Due to being born blind, he was sold alongside his enslaved parents in 1850. They were sold in Columbus, Georgia, to a lawyer called General James Neil Bethune.

Because he was born blind and was also autistic (although these conditions were not recognized or understood at the time), he could not do the things other slaves did. Despite these challenges, Blind Tom showed an early aptitude for music, and he began playing the piano at a young age.

It is said that Tom had created his first melody, called The Rain Storm, by the time he turned five years old, following heavy rainfall.

General Bethune acknowledged Tom's talents and allowed him to reside in a room that was connected to their family home, which was furnished with a piano.

Blind Tom's musical talent was remarkable, and he was soon performing for audiences across the country. He had a unique style that incorporated elements of classical music, folk music, and improvisation, and he was known for his ability to play complex pieces after hearing them only once.

In 1860, Tom was brought to a political event to support the Democratic presidential candidate Stephen Douglas. Despite the passage of years, Tom was able to recite the entire speech, flawlessly imitating Douglas's tone and mannerisms. What's more, he was able to reproduce the exact heckles and cheers of the audience with astonishing accuracy, showcasing his exceptional abilities.

At the age of eight, Bethune began leasing "Blind Tom" to concert promoter Perry Oliver, who took him on tours across the United States, where he performed up to four times a day. This venture was extremely profitable, earning Oliver and Bethune as much as $100,000 annually, which was a considerable amount of money in that era. In fact, this amount would be more than $2 million per year in today's currency, making Blind Tom the highest-paid pianist of the nineteenth century.

In 1860, Wiggins, who was likely 11 years old at the time, made history as the first African-American to give a performance at the White House. He showcased his talent in front of President James Buchanan, a year before the Civil War began.

The Battle Over Ownership

General Bethune handed over the responsibility of managing Blind Tom's professional career to his son, John Bethune, in 1875. Subsequently, John accompanied Blind Tom on tours around the United States for the next eight years. John toured New York with Blind Tom.

In 1882, John Bethune married his landlady, Eliza Stutzbach, who proved to be good at calming Blind Tom's temper. However, shortly after their marriage, John and Tom went on a tour around the U.S., leaving Eliza behind. When John returned eight months later, Eliza filed for divorce and a legal battle ensued over the custody of Blind Tom.

After John's death in a railway accident, Eliza was awarded custody of Blind Tom in August 1887. Tom continued performing under the management of Eliza and her attorney, Albrecht Lerche, until the mid-1890s when Eliza took him off the concert circuit due to legal challenges to her custodianship. Tom continued to travel until at least 1894, but rumors persisted that he had died in the Johnstown Flood in 1889, and some questioned if the "real Blind Tom" was still performing after that date.