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?)