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- Jul 19, 2004
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... When someone wants to tell a joke about a generic blind person, they always say "Stevie Wonder" rather than, say, David Blunkett, Blind Lemon Jefferson, or Lennie Peters. Somehow, he is the only blind person who everyone knows and feels able to joke about. ...
For decades the paradigmatic acclaimed blind musician was Ray Charles. Before that, it was George Shearing.
Back in the Sixties I saw Ray turn the tables on Dean Martin (on Dean's own variety show). Ray had performed a number, after which Dean was leaning on the piano and casually interviewing him. Martin said something that could have led to an awkward reference to seeing or sight and noticeably paused as if trying to decide how to change the subject. Whereupon ...
Ray said, "You know, Dean, there's just one big problem with being blind ..."
Dean looked authentically shocked and confused, and finally answered, "Uhhhh, what's that, Ray?"
Ray responded, "I can't see!" and laughed heartily.