Delmar Boulevard - formerly Morgan Street (between 19th & 20th Streets)

John William “Blind” Boone was a nationally acclaimed concert pianist and composer, celebrated for his extraordinary talent and trailblazing career during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in 1864 in a military camp in Miami, Missouri, during the Civil War. His mother, Rachel Boone, was an African American mess cook, and his father, William S. Belcher, was a white bugler for the Union Army.

At just six months old, Boone contracted what was then called "brain fever," likely encephalitis. To save his life, a doctor surgically removed both of his eyes—a traumatic beginning that would not stop his musical destiny.

As a child, Boone moved with his family to Warrensburg, Missouri, where he began learning to play the harmonica. His gift for music was evident from the start; he could play complex pieces after hearing them only once. At age nine, he was sent to the Missouri Institute for the Education of the Blind in St. Louis, which then enrolled only six African American students. There, Boone was introduced to the piano and his talent flourished—despite the school’s efforts to limit his practice time and instead assign him to the trade department to learn broom-making.

Refusing to be stifled, Boone began sneaking out of the school at night to visit St. Louis music halls, soaking in the rich musical atmosphere of the city. By age 12, he had run away completely, playing piano on street corners near Franklin and Morgan (now Martin Luther King Drive and Delmar), captivating passersby with his unique blend of classical technique, spirituals, and popular music.

Eventually, Boone returned to Warrensburg and teamed up with a manager who formed the Blind Boone Concert Company. For decades, Boone toured the country relentlessly, performing for diverse audiences in churches, concert halls, and opera houses. His repertoire combined classical compositions, spirituals, ragtime, and popular melodies, bridging musical worlds and challenging racial and artistic boundaries of the time.

Boone's ability to memorize and perform entire compositions after a single hearing earned him widespread acclaim. He was not only a musical genius but also a symbol of Black excellence and perseverance during a period of deep segregation and limited opportunity for African American artists.

After his death in 1927, Boone’s legacy continued to grow. The Boone County Historical Society in Columbia, Missouri, established a Blind Boone exhibit, and both a housing development and a community center have been named in his honor. Today, his life stands as a powerful example of overcoming adversity through brilliance, discipline, and unwavering passion for music.

Today, the Missouri School for the Blind (formerly known as the Missouri Institution for the Education of the Blind) is located at 3815 Magnolia Avenue. The school continues to serve students with visual impairments and offers a range of educational and support services.