Blind Joe


Location: Kindred, ND

Challenge: Blind

Website: facebook.com/theblindjoe

Joseph "Blind Joe" Bommersbac is a totally blind singer/songwriter born and raised in and around the Fargo North Dakota area.

Joe was born three months premature, Joe adds "They told my parents there was a 98 percent chance I would not survive". Miraculously, he beat the odds and survived. While in the hospital, his eyes weren't protected from the harsh hospital lighting, which left him blind.

But his blindness didn't stop him learning the guitar, and becoming "Blind Joe," Country Musician.

Joe is incredibly close to his grandfather, who taught him how to play guitar by putting it on his lap. At an early age, he found he had an ear for music and quickly mastered multiple instruments.

Joe says "I practiced. I practiced. I worked hard.

And I practiced. And I didn't let anybody stand in my way of what I knew I could do".

Joe has opened for some great bands and musicians including David Allen Coe, Craig Morgan, The Kentucky Headhunters, Brett Michaels of Poison, Joe Diffie, John Hiatt, Buddy Guy, James Otto and many more. Joe adds "I believe that good music always comes straight from your heart and soul!"

Joe has never let his unique circumstances get in the way of anything else he wants to accomplish, including taking the stage at the Blind Auditions, performing on NBC's The Voice. He earned a four-chair turn - the highest honor.

Apart from music, he loves dirt biking and working with other people with disabilities, teaching technology.

Joe says "If I can help kids in any way or if I can be that person for them, even if I only touch one or two kids with my message, that's worth it for me, it's a message that even when life isn't fair you can accomplish big things if you work hard".

Joe adds "There's absolutely nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it. There's nothing standing between you and success. And I'm living proof of that, I want to convey a message to kids that if you practice hard, and you work hard at what you do, and you treat people the way you want to be treated, anything's possible".

Joe says "It's really fun for me to be able to be such a positive role model and a positive influence for people. Living proof that life is as fair as you decide to make it".


Blind Joe - The Voice audition 2015 - "If It Hadn't Been for Love"