Walter Meyer asked about Thomas Bethune. Grove says: "Bethune (Green), Thomas [Blind Tom] (b Columbus, Georgia, 25 May 1849; d Hoboken, NJ, 13 June 1908). Black American pianist and composer. A blind, self-taught musician, born a slave, he began to compose when he was five, and produced over 100 piano and vocal pieces. He improvised variations on operatic tunes and popular ballads, and he was said to be able to reproduce difficult pieces after a single hearing. At the age of eight, he was first exhibited by his master, James Bethune; thereafter he appeared for several decades in the USA and Europe, making a fortune for Bethune, who became his guardian-manager after emancipation." A short bibliography follows. Richard Pennycuick [log in to unmask]