Pierce Knox

He achieved fame by winning the $5,000 grand prize on the Horace Heidt Original Youth Opportunity television show by performing the "Second Hungarian Rhapsody" on the xylophone.

[2] Following graduation, he decided to make entertainment a profession, and for five years played the high school and college circuit throughout the United States and Canada.

[3] Knox played for the Ripley's Believe It Or Not program at the 1939-40 World's Fair in New York and later continued to tour many high schools and colleges[4] to demonstrate that his blindness did not limit his musical ability and accomplishments.

[5] He soon achieved national recognition when he earned a place in the finals of the Horace Heidt Original Youth Opportunity radio show during the programs first year in 1947.

[3] During the next three years he was a Horace Heidt regular, playing at Army installations in Germany, France and Vienna, and before civilian audiences in Paris, Berlin and Munich.