The Sound of Perseverance
Well known musicians and
the disabilities that they have had to overcome
The Ontario Human Rights code defines disability as:
Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device
The Ontario Human Rights code defines disability as:
•a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability
•a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language
The Ontario Human Rights code defines disability as:
•a mental disorder.
•an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.
There are 12 different types of disabilities or functional limitations
1) Physical2) Hearing3) Speech 4) Vision5) Deaf-Blind6) Smell 7) Touch8) Taste9) Intellectual10) Mental Health11) Learning 12) Other (Disabilities result from other conditions, accidents, illnesses, and diseases, including ALS (Lou Gehrig disease), asthma, diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, environmental sensitivities, seizure disorders, heart disease, stroke, and joint replacement.
Many famous
(and less than famous)
musicians have successfully
overcome their disability
Hearing Impediment
Michael Bolton: VocalistDeaf in one ear
Evelyne Glennie: OBEDeaf Percussionist
Gabriel Faure: ComposerLate Romantic Era
Ludwig Van Beethoven:Composer, Early Romantic Era
Pete Townshend: Guitarist“The Who” composer “Tommy”Deafness caused by exposure toloud music
Johnny Ray: Pop performer50’s and 60’s Performed using hearing aids
Visual Impediment
Alec Templeton: Pianist/Performerfrom the days of radio
Ray Charles: Gifted composerpianist/entertainer Diane Schurr: Jazz pianist
and vocalist
Andrea Boccelli: Crossover opera and pop performer
John Stanley: Baroque eraEnglish composer
Jeff Healy: Canadian bluesGuitar/Trumpet player
George Shearing: English Born Jazz pianist/composer
Visual Impediment
Stevie Wonder: Motownsuperstar.
Jose Feliciano: Latin Americanperformer, famous for “Feliz Navidad”
Francesco Landini: Italian Renaissance composer
Rashaan Roland Kirk: Jazz musicianand political activist
Jean Langlais: French organistand composer
Fredrick Delius: English composer.
Physical Impediment
James Depriest:Conductor. Polio
Teddy Pendergrast:Singer. Spinal Cord Injury
Hank Williams: SingerSpina Bifida Rick Allen: Drummer
Amputee
Django Reinhardt:Jazz Guitarist: Only had two useable fingers on his left hand
Itzhak Perlman: World renown Violinist:Polio
Ian Dury: British PunkVocalist. Polio
Neil Young: Rock IconEpilepsy, Polio and Diabetes
Jason Becker: 80’s guitar wiz kidPlayed with David Lee Roth:Lou Gehrig's Disease Still composing, though unable to play.
Physical Impediment
Hector Berlioz: French composer: Epilepsy
George Fredrich Handel:Composer of “The HallelujahChorus”: Epilepsy
Nicolo Paganini: ItalianViolin virtuoso. Played so wellThat it was thought he signed aDeal with the devil: Epilepsy
Kenny G: Smooth Jazz Saxophonist: Asthma
Marjorie Lawrence :Opera singer: Polio
Lead Belly: Blues legend: Lou Gehrigs Disease
Rita McNeil: Canadian Country Star: Cleft Palate
Jaqueline De Pre: English Cellist: Multiple Sclerosis
CeDell Davis: JazzGuitarist: Polio
Tony Melendez:Catholic composer,Performer. Born without arms
Mental or Processing Impediments
Buddy Bolden: ConsideredTo be the father of Jazz:Schizophrenia
Tom Harrell: Jazz Trumpeter:Paranoid Schizophrenia
Elvis: famous entertainer:Believed to have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Beethoven: composerIdiosyncrasies that wouldtoday, be categorized as a Disorder
Harry Belafonte:Singer/entertainer”Dyslexia
Musicians to watch for!
Patrick Henry Hughes:Born without eyes and limited movement ofhis limbs. Plays piano and trumpet: ComposerSinger
Liu Wei: Chinese pianist born without arms
The Challenge of Being Challenged
Hearing: Play a duet with someone while having your hearing disrupted (ipod, ear plugs etc)
Vision: Learn a piece of music from someone else by just listening to it, or having it dictated to you one note at a time
Physical: Reverse your hands and play your instrument
Others..Try to play a piece with the music turned upside down.(any other ideas?)
Top Related