He’s a mini-Mercury marvel! Blind boy, seven, goes viral with his incredible piano rendition of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody
- Avett Ray Maness, from Centerville, Ohio, performs Queen’s classic 1975 song
- He has hypoplasia – leaving him blind in his left eye, and limited vision in his right
- Avett Ray’s version of Bo Rhap has has almost 4million views on YouTube
If Freddie Mercury is up there watching this little piano-playing sensation, he would be so very proud.
Heartwarming footage shows a blind seven-year-old boy performing a wonderful version of Bohemian Rhapsody – from start to finish.
Avett Ray Maness, from Centerville, Ohio, is seen sitting on his little piano stool and exclaiming: ‘Hello guys. Today, I’m going to be playing you Bohemian Rhapsody, and it goes like this.’
And then, actually looking like a mini Elton John in his glasses, he begins his 6 minute 45 second musical odyssey – his head barely peeping over the piano keys.
Avett Ray, who is blind in his left eye, and has limited vision in his right, works his way effortlessly through every section of the classic Queen song, which appeared on the band’s 1975 album A Night At The Opera.
Avett Ray Maness, who is blind in one eye, and has limited vision in the other, has become a viral sensation for his amazing performance of Bohemian Rhapsody
The seven-year-old, from Centerville, Ohio, works his way through Queen’s classic 1975 song
Avett Ray’s mother, Sara D. Moore, discovered her son had a condition – optic nerve hypoplasia (underdeveloped optic nerve) – when she took him to an ophthalmologist when he was just two months old
He even sings the lower, and falsetto, parts of the ‘Let him go’ section, all the while in perfect tune and executing complex chord structures.
As for the head-banging instrumental, Avett Ray rocks out with passion.
In the moments where he has trouble finding the right notes, he takes care to correct himself, like a true perfectionist.
Most beginners would perhaps be attempting something like Chopsticks at this age – but not Avett Ray.
When Avett Ray strikes a wrong note in the complex arrangement, he takes care to correct himself during his tour de force, which has racked up nearly 4million views on YouTube
He played his first tune, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, from memory on the piano when he was just 11 months old.
Now, he performs local concerts in front of his many fans, and is currently quite taken by Bach’s minuets.
Such is his fan base, he’s had nearly 4million views of his Bo Rhap on YouTube.
Avett Ray’s inspiration, Freddie Mercury, in concert at Wembley Arena in September 1984
His piano teacher, Rebecca James, told the Washington Post: ‘He likes a good challenge and loves playing music with a more complex structure. Sometimes, we just compose or improvise or just jam together.’
Avett Ray’s mother, Sara D. Moore, discovered her son had a condition – optic nerve hypoplasia (underdeveloped optic nerve) – when she took him to an ophthalmologist when he was just two months old.
‘Once he listens to a song, he can play it, ‘ she said.
And the proof is there for all to see. Among his other fantastic renditions are Let It Be, by the Beatles, Total Eclipse Of The Heart, by Bonnie Tyler, and Meghan Trainor’s All About That Bass.