NOTE: Original vid was taken down, but this one was recently uploaded.
A little soothing Sunday music.
This is a video of a friend's group based in Austin. I featured a post about his mother after she passed away a few months ago. I accidentally stumbled across this video and a few others at YouTube after doing a search for the group.
Unless the make-up of the band has changed, I believe all the members are legally blind. (although the guy playing the bass glances at the camera, but that doesn't mean he's not visually impaired. You will notice them being led into the venue near the first of the vid) My friend Jimmy is the one playing the keyboard and is a very talented young man. (His face is never pictured and he's NOT the man playing the piano, but there are several shots of Jimmy's hands, esp. at the first. You can also see him at the right of the video when the song first starts)
Their music can be purchased at CD Baby. They also have a MySpace page with a selection of a few of their tunes.
June 21, 2009
Valentine Lady - Blue Mist
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6 comments:
I will also add...but didn't want to do so in the main post...that Jimmy is married to a blind girl and they have three children, the oldest being 13-14 by now.
His wife went blind in her early teens, I believe, and talking about it with me several years ago, I heard Jimmy voice the only big of frustration with his blindness I'd ever heard from him.
He was telling me that his wife was much more insecure with her blindness than he was, being as how she hadn't had to cope with it as long as he had; he then went on to say in a wistful voice:
"But she's seen colors."
It wrenched my heart, lemme tell you.
Jimmy had several brothers, and they didn't cut him any slack. I've been over there when one would stick his foot out in front of Jimmy and SOMEHOW Jim would know and reach out and WHACK his brother with his cane.
Can you imagine how hard it would be to raise three children when both of the parents are blind? I know sighted people who don't do a very good job with ONE child, much less three, and to be blind and do a good job....it blows my mind.
When I first met the family, Jim had written a song and Ronnie Milsap was interested in recording it, but it fell through somehow, not for sure on the particulars. I think Jimmy writes a good bit of the material the group performs.
lovely music, thanks again for linking it to us.
Should've been the "only BIT of frustration...."
20-20 hindsight editing. -sigh-
Was surprised to stumble across this one. There's another couple of vids; one has Jimmy's face in it a lot more, but it's a cover of "Use Me" by Bill Withers (and I've already posted that particular video)
Thanks for posting!
Lovely song , oh what a great sounding guy , sometimes I never appreciate fully the things I have been blessed with ,i cant imagine how it is to be blind , I knew a couple back in Cyprus with 3 kids who were deaf and dumb ,amazing to see their children had learned sign language from such an early age so communicated perfectly , amazing .
Thanks for this post , will go check out YT and My Space to listen a little more of the music .
I worked at the Texas School For the Blind years ago when these guys were teenagers. Three of them, Jimmy
Vinson, Rodney Hyder, and Steve Johnson, were students there when I was there. These guys have ALWAYS been extremely talented! Blue Mist played at our wedding back in 1987. thought the players have changed a little over the years, they are still as wonderful now as back then. I really believe that this could be a real hit, especially Valentine Lady, and I will plug it every opportunity I get. And, as for feeling bad for these guys and thinking that they could be picked on as kids, don't be fooled! They were just teenagers with a vision problem! I have seen them pull some real stunts! Great guys...
Thanks for posting, Sissylou and particularly for the information. I've known Jimmy for probably 25 yrs. but haven't been able to be around him all that much, just a few times a year. I hope he and his band make it to the big time.
I've got a 45 record of theirs, but I haven't listened to it in a long time; have been meaning to break out the turntable and get it transferred to digital so I can add the songs to my mp3 jukebox.
Jimmy has a Facebook page and posts every now and then. I try to keep up with what's left of the family via Jim's brother Jeff when I see him.
Again, thanks for stopping by and posting!
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