Interesting. Thanks, Kent, for that information about a White musician/singer whose stage name started with the word "blind".

Here's an excerpt of that first linked article:

"In those days, a physical handicap was a terribly limiting factor. The blind either begged or relied on their family's benevolence, but those with some musical ability found a way to support themselves. Alfred Reed, born blind on June 15, 1880, in Floyd, VA, was one of the lucky few who was able to scrape a living from playing at local dances, churches and on the streets of his hometown."...