The diminutive man who can't see is led onto the stage, seated in front of his amplifier, and handed his guitar. His gnarled fingers seek the strings and quickly renew their long acquaintance with the instrument, covering the frets like talons and strumming and picking at the strings as if his claw-like extremities are merely an extension of the guitar.

Snooks Eaglin's mind and heart are equally well connected to the guitar and to the music itself. His intelligence and soul are likewis...