{"id":2378,"date":"2024-06-21T10:32:39","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T08:32:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/batec-mobility.com\/en\/?p=2378"},"modified":"2024-06-26T09:50:40","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T07:50:40","slug":"disabled-musicians-icons-from-beethoven-to-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/batec-mobility.com\/en\/disabled-musicians-icons-from-beethoven-to-today\/","title":{"rendered":"Disabled Musicians: Icons from Beethoven to Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

History has proven that music and disability can go hand in hand.<\/strong> This is exemplified by some of the most famous disabled musicians in history<\/strong>, as well as more recent bands in the music scene.<\/p>\n

A perfect example of this is Beethoven<\/strong>, the classical music genius who, despite his deafness, created some of the best compositions of all time. In the music scene of recent decades, we can find other examples of artists with diverse abilities. \u202fRay Charles<\/strong>, blind since childhood, is one of the greatest singers, saxophonists and pianists of soul, R&B and jazz. Another example is Rick Allen<\/strong>, drummer of Def Leppard, who managed to continue playing the drums with only one arm after a car accident.<\/p>\n

\"Rick
Rick Allen, Def Leppard drummer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Musicians with physical disabilities<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Portugal.<\/strong><\/a> The Man.<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Eric Howk is the guitarist and composer of the famous band<\/strong> Portugal. The Man. In 2007, during negotiations to join the band, Howk had a fall that caused paraplegia, and he has used a wheelchair ever since<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

After his injury, he continued playing guitar in different bands and shows, which served as a learning curve and adaptation to his new normal. This experience made him realise that he wanted to keep playing, composing and touring.<\/p>\n

In 2015, he finally joined the band and has enjoyed every show since, as he stated in an interview. In 2018, they won a Grammy for the song Feel it Still<\/em><\/a>,<\/em> making Howk the second wheelchair-using musician to receive this award.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the first was Christopher Reeve in 1999 for the best-narrated audiobook with Nothing is Impossible<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Eric
Eric Howk, Portugal. The Man guitarist during one of the band\u2019s concerts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Staff Benda Bilili<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

In 2009, the Congolese group Staff Benda Bilili<\/strong> got the world dancing with their music, which blends Congolese rumba with tribal rhythms, funk and Cuban mambo. What makes this band unique is that its members are physically disabled musicians, some of whom have had their mobility affected by polio<\/strong> and now use wheelchairs.<\/p>\n

In just three years, they went from being street musicians to becoming one of the leading acts in contemporary African music. Their first album, Tr\u00e8s tr\u00e8s fort<\/em>, catapulted them to fame, and they played at the Glastonbury Festival<\/a>, receiving praise from Massive Attack and significant media recognition from the BBC, The Times and NME, among others.<\/p>\n\n

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