Several of the blind bluesmen who recorded in the 20s and 30s have 'Blind' prefixings their names: Blind Blake, Blind Willie McTell etc. Did they really call themselves that or was it perhaps added by the record companies to perhaps elicit sympathy in the cynical belief it would increase? It seems this title was not added to the blind white singers of the period such as Riley Puckett, nor has it been used for blind black singers in more recent times. Any suggestions please.

Doc John