Mr. Watson, is seems was indeed a musician of wonder! His ‘one man band’ apparently sounded like an entire orchestra, involving his whole body, even more of a wonder because he was blind.
Another famous blind musician was Doc Watson (perhaps a distant relation?), the American guitarist, singer and songwriter.
“Mr. Watson, a Scotch artist, gave two evening concerts in the Guildhall on the 5th and 7th inst. The peculiarity of this performance renders it worthy of special notice. Mr. Watson, who has been deprived of sight from his infancy, performed on five instruments, bringing into simultaneous musical action his mouth, hands, and feet, – on two harmonicons*, two first violins, and a violincello, producing in combination the effect of a complete band. This, as we observed by the inspection of the instrument allowed to the audience by Mr. Watson, is produced by the addition of a sounding board and steel-bar to the violin, two additional sounding boards to the Victoria guitar. The contrivance is most ingenious, and does the inventor infinite credit, considering the physical disadvantages under which he labors.”
The Stamford Mercury, 8th October, 1847.
*A harmonica or mouth organ.