
Blind Boone was born in 1864 during the Civil War in Miami, Missouri. His mother, Rachel, was a contraband slave, confiscated from Confederate forces, who worked at a Union camp. His father was William S. Belcher, a 19-year-old soldier, who served as the company bugler. Shortly after giving birth, Rachel moved with her son, John William Boone, to Warrensburg, Missouri. When he was just six months old, Boone developed a severe brain infection. In order to reduce the swelling in his brain, doctors surgically removed his eyes and sewed them shut.
In her biography of Blind Boone, Melissa Fuell, principal singer for The Blind Boone Concert Company wrote, “His talent for music was discovered as soon as he could sit alone. He would sit on the stone hearth and play tunes with two sticks. His first instrument was a tin whistle with which he could play any ordinary tune after hearing it once. Next, he was presented with a mouth organ with which he charmed the whole neighborhood, children from far and near came to hear him. He soon became a favorite with all.”