Musicians With Disablities

THE DIRECTORY OF MUSICIANS WITH DISABILITIES - APRIL 3008 - DISABILITIES

THE FUTURE OF MUSIC IS NOW
MUSICIANS WITH DISABILITIES

Featured Artist

Derek Mortland, whose life was changed dramatically due to a paralyzing semi-pro motorcycle accident in 1997; relearned guitar and broke through new musical barriers, as explained in an article from the “The Columbus Dispatch,” March 2001, “I sustained a spinal cord injury and head injury,” he explained. “I had to totally re-learn how to do many things we generally take for granted.” Since has performed in festivals around the world through the Artists with Disabilities Network, and grown in ways which seldom occur without the ability to look at life from a different perspective. New CD (2008) "SKETCHES IN TIME"

A little bit about Future Link - E Mail: Future of Music

Excuse the folks who run this site; physical and mental issues have us out of commission for the time being.
Know of a musician with a disAbility? Have her or him contact Future Link, we will get the listing up quickly.

This opening page filled up to the point where we had to add a second page: MUSICABILITY SECOND PAGE

Future-Link Musicians Directory

NEW Tracy Marie has had both hips replaced and credits the surgeries with improving her mobility and limp. On a normal day, though, she has problems standing for more than 5-10 minutes before pain sets in because of the dysplasia and osteoarthritis. Tracy has seen both sides of the fence. Although there may be certain prejudices that exist against people with disabilities, especially as performers, she says there are prejudices against people because they look good too. Her disability is not always visible or apparent to people; people have also doubted her disabilities because of her perceived beauty.

NEW SIMON ILLA A quote from New Mobility magazine posted on a wall in his living room reads; "He’s 3 feet tall, his bones are brittle, and he uses a wheel chair - what makes him think he can make it in the music biz? He believes in himself, and that’s all he needs.” He's barely three feet tall. He's stuck to a wheelchair. His voice evokes jokes about sucking on a helium tank. But today, as he sits in a recording studio at Miami's Hit Factory, where the Bee Gees, Paul Simon, R.E.M., Beyoncé, and countless others have birthed multi-platinum albums...

NEW Chazz deMeyer - A disabled musician (spinal chord) for over thirty years, and for the life of me I do not know why it took so many years to seek others in a similar condition. After all this time I have finally gotten around to writing and singing about it. I have a new CD (Recovery) and a new book (The Fire Within) to be released in Feb.

*Miss Money: Musician - Rap, R&B Gospel DJ Urban music producer. Muscular dystrophy. Miss Money has been featured here a year ago but you HAVE to check out her new site and new music. Check Miss Money out! New up dated site site and photos coming soon on Future Link!

TOE JAM MUSIC: Is Jose Melendez. Tony was born without arms because his mother was prescribed thalidomide during her pregnancy. He was brought to the Los Angeles area from Nicaragua to be fitted with artificial arms. He wore them until he was ten, when he disposed of them. "I didn't feel comfortable," he explains, "I could use my feet so much more."

*Beaver Felton: Bassist, Teacher, Businessman, Paraplegic- Interview with Beaver from Bass Inside magazine. Our second listing after Abon. Beaver operates Bass Central music store specializing in high end basses and amplification. Bassist Dave LaRu is a silent partner.

*PROFESSIR X- DJ - Rapper - Video Editor - Advocate - Quad. Richard has founded an non-profit organization called, the I Believe Organization whose purpose is to promote awareness of the research being done and currently needed to help cure the diseases and conditions that affect him, and so many others.

*Leroy F Moore Jr. Writer, advocate and journalist on issues and art involving disabled people of color. Leroy was born in Buffalo, NY in 1967 with Cerebral Palsy. "Krip-Hop displays the beauty and strength of collaboration and disabled music history, present and future." Leroy is one of the leading voices in the field of crimes, police brutality and wrongful incarceration of people with disabilities, and racism in the disabled community.

*Greg Harry: Writer, Producer, Vocals, Midi, Quadriplegic, political philosopher.

*Wayne MacDonald: Singer - song writer - guitarist - Paraplegic

*Rob Richard: Drummer - Cerebral Palsy Creator of HANDIDRUMMER A website for disabled drummers made BY disabled drummers.

*Bassist Bill Clements began playing at the age of 13, inspired by Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, and other progressive rock bass giants. Bill lost his right hand and forearm, December 1989 in an industrial accident... within three months time, Bill was gigging again, and he hasn't stopped since.

*Gary Schooley: Creator of Future-Link. Being a (closet) Musician & (experienced) Paraplegic, I find it both inspiring & moving to come across talented musicians with disabilities. Although my music history is not much compared to the folks listed on this page, there is always room for improvement for learning and developing musical skills.

*.Andrew Hewitt: Drummer - mild Cerebral Palsy. Formed The "Drums in Motion Project" a drum therapy workshop program aimed at disabled children.

*The Raven Drum Foundation Rick Allen the drummer for Def Leppard lost an arm in a car accident in 1984. "The first sound we ever heard was our mother’s heartbeat: The rhythm of life. Each and every one of our ancestors came from a tribe of people who all sat around a fire and communicated through percussion, through rattles and drums."

*Vic Chesnutt: Singer, Guitarist, Paraplegic- "The big regrets have nothing to do with me. I look at the world and think, 'God, what a crazy world.' I think, 'God, it was so close. We could have lived with the Indians and not killed them all. That would have been great.' We were close, so close, right on the edge from realizing, 'No, you don't want to slaughter them.' We could have had a whole different world in the Americas. That makes me depressed."

*J.P. Williams, Singer Guitarist - Blind - JP is now an active part of the music landscape in Music City and is considered by many critics as one the best emerging artists in the Southeast.

*ABÒN: Musician, Paraplegic- Music Genre: Electronica. *Abon was the first musician listed on Future Link.

*Anthony Rain Starez: Writer, Musician, Paraplegic; sings with the rock/pop trio Free Spirit in the Tampa Bay Florida area. Tony sings with acoustic guitar and violin

*Pastr S'wayne of Metro Houston has been rapping since 1983. But since 1991, he has been flowin' to heal, empower, lead and encourage. He is the first known person to record over five projects with a tracheotomy to be in use.

*Russ Ward: Singer Guitarist Genre: country, bluegrass, folk and rock - Multiple Sclerosis

*Robert Wyatt: Musician, Drummer, Writer, Paraplegic A 54-year-old communist and veteran of the psychedelic era, may be the most compelling pop musician working in 1998. Flagpole's Phil Waldorf caught the artist on the phone at his home in England...

*Curtis Mayfield: A founding father of Soul music...

*Mike Hamer: Musician, Hammered Dulcimer, Storyteller, Wheelchair Dancer, Quadriplegic

*Flame - The lead singer, an amazing woman who plays guitar and sings. She has autism and is mentally challenged. She has an amazing voice and learns songs and new instruments in minutes. The drummer who sings background, is blind and mentally retarded. The bass player is paralyzed from the waist down. The rest of the band are background singers, percussionists and 3 dancers.

* Rob Da Noize Temple Musician Keyboards Producer is Noizemozis with John MoSis Miller: Rob has Erbs Palsy limiting him to the use of only one arm. Genre: R&B, Hip Hop.

*Kina Diamond: Singer, Songwriter, has Muscular Dystrophy.

*Van Gogh: Touring Band. Despite their enormous popularity in disability circles, Van Gogh’s songs are notoriously free of references to disability. “We don’t write message songs. We hope our message is in our actions. The fact that we do it well says more than if we gave a seminar.” explains Ricky. Van Gough has developed into a fine band with an exceptional group of musicians.

*Evelyn Glennie - Percussionist Solo Drummer & Deaf (We are of the understanding that Evelyn is 80% deaf?)

*Anne Bostwick: Songwriter, Singer, with the band Raven Blue, Paraplegic

*Kevin Reed: Drummer - Traumatic brain injury survivor - Creator of the Trash Kat garbage can drum.

*Neil Murray: Drummer; cerebral palsy

*Jon Weems: Musician Music Maker Quadriplegic

*David Gregory Lee: Singer - Multiple Disabilities

*A hard road to travel - Kavelle Anglin Christie - Jamaica Gleaner - Talks with 3 musicians who are disabled. Picture on left: Popular duo Father and Son. - Photo by Herbert McKenis

FUTURE PLANS FOR FUTURE-LINK: Below are the first of many links to be added here to sites featuring equipment that can be utilized by folks with different disabilities for recording and for live performances, this will include reviews on the latest products available. If you know of specific equipment or are using adaptive equipment let us know about it! Chat room or forums? Any Ideas for us?

This is not a book written for musicians with disabilities.

But, it is a must read for anyone interested in the history, concept, and origins of music. it is written for Songwriters, Performers, Music Students, Musicians, Producers, and answers questions such as 'Why Is There Such A Thing As Music? I have been reading this for weeks and am still not through the 3rd chapter. The information in this book boggles the mind.

Chapters include: Evolution, the Brain and Rhythm - Evolution, Music, and Emotional Arousal - Where Chords Come From - and a lot about human evolution and both the church's and Religions roles in suppressing certain forms of music through out history. This book would serve as a music students bible. -Bassinat66

RECREATIONAL MUSIC MAKING FROM NAMM - 2008 NAMM SHOW GALLERY
HERE IS WHERE TO CHECK OUT THE NEWEST PRODUCTS FOR MUSIC MAKING - LIVE & RECORDING

DRAKE MUSIC PROJECT provides opportunities for disabled musicians of all ages and abilities to explore, compose and perform music and brings together disabled and non-disabled artists...
...Our vision is a world where disabled musicians have the same opportunities to make music as their non-disabled counterparts, and a culture of integrated music-making where disabled and non-disabled musicians work together as equals.

Electronic Musician explores how physically disabled musicians use technology to help them record and perform their music ... Greg Harry is featured in this article.

can you hear what you think you can hear? i discovered that i had lost 80% of my hearing in my right ear b-4 i noticed it! duh hello?

Are You at risk? It's not cool when You can't hear. HEAR NET

NAMM 2008 - Welcome to the EM, Mix and Remixmagazines Winter NAMM exclusive site, brought to you by Intel. We've packed in all of our trade show coverage in one easy-to-find spot. So for those of you who can't get to Anaheim, Calif., for the show, bookmark this page for late-breaking news. If you're at the show, see Winter NAMM through the editors' eyes with our Tech Minutes video, listen on the podcast and read about all of the happenings on our blogs.

This opening page has filled up to the point where we added a second page: PAGE 2

GET YOUR BASS GEAR FROM BEAVER FELTON

E mail:
Future Link Musicians

Counter Installed January 20 2008 - By Bassinat66 -

Music & rhythm, the melody, the beat; sound travels through time & space through the muscles and nerves of our bodies mind & spirit and has the power to Heal. Apollo was the god of music and medicine, Plato said that music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination... Music gives us movement; the tapping of the foot and the nodding of the head to music is the beginning, from these seemingly insignificant movements we can go into full dance mode if we let loose of our selves and our minds and let our bodies move to the music: Dance To The Music! Make Music! Let Music Heal our bodies and our minds.

TO PAGE 2 OF MUSICABILITY

	NEW Tracy Marie has had both hips replaced and credits the surgeries with improving her mobility and limp. On a normal day, though, she has problems standing for more than 5-10 minutes before pain sets in because of the dysplasia and osteoarthritis. Tracy has seen both sides of the fence. Although there may be certain prejudices that exist against people with disabilities, especially as performers, she says there are prejudices against people because they look good too. Her disability is not always visible or apparent to people; people have also doubted her disabilities because of her perceived beauty.
	NEW SIMON ILLA A quote from New Mobility magazine posted on a wall in his living room reads; "He’s 3 feet tall, his bones are brittle, and he uses a wheel chair - what makes him think he can make it in the music biz? He believes in himself, and that’s all he needs.” He's barely three feet tall. He's stuck to a wheelchair. His voice evokes jokes about sucking on a helium tank. But today, as he sits in a recording studio at Miami's Hit Factory, where the Bee Gees, Paul Simon, R.E.M., Beyoncé, and countless others have birthed multi-platinum albums...
	NEW Chazz deMeyer - A disabled musician (spinal chord) for over thirty years, and for the life of me I do not know why it took so many years to seek others in a similar condition. After all this time I have finally gotten around to writing and singing about it. I have a new CD (Recovery) and a new book (The Fire Within) to be released in Feb.
	*Miss Money: Musician - Rap, R&B Gospel DJ Urban music producer. Muscular dystrophy. Miss Money has been featured here a year ago but you HAVE to check out her new site and new music. Check Miss Money out! New up dated site site and photos coming soon on Future Link!
	TOE JAM MUSIC: Is Jose Melendez. Tony was born without arms because his mother was prescribed thalidomide during her pregnancy. He was brought to the Los Angeles area from Nicaragua to be fitted with artificial arms. He wore them until he was ten, when he disposed of them. "I didn't feel comfortable," he explains, "I could use my feet so much more."
	*Beaver Felton: Bassist, Teacher, Businessman, Paraplegic- Interview with Beaver from Bass Inside magazine. Our second listing after Abon. Beaver operates Bass Central music store specializing in high end basses and amplification. Bassist Dave LaRu is a silent partner.
	*PROFESSIR X- DJ - Rapper - Video Editor - Advocate - Quad. Richard has founded an non-profit organization called, the I Believe Organization whose purpose is to promote awareness of the research being done and currently needed to help cure the diseases and conditions that affect him, and so many others.
	*Leroy F Moore Jr. Writer, advocate and journalist on issues and art involving disabled people of color. Leroy was born in Buffalo, NY in 1967 with Cerebral Palsy. "Krip-Hop displays the beauty and strength of collaboration and disabled music history, present and future." Leroy is one of the leading voices in the field of crimes, police brutality and wrongful incarceration of people with disabilities, and racism in the disabled community.
	Greg Harry: Writer, Producer, Vocals, Midi, Quadriplegic, political philosopher.*
	*Wayne MacDonald: Singer - song writer - guitarist - Paraplegic
	*Rob Richard: Drummer - Cerebral Palsy Creator of HANDIDRUMMER A website for disabled drummers made BY disabled drummers.
	*Bassist Bill Clements began playing at the age of 13, inspired by Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, and other progressive rock bass giants. Bill lost his right hand and forearm, December 1989 in an industrial accident... within three months time, Bill was gigging again, and he hasn't stopped since.
	*Gary Schooley: Creator of Future-Link. Being a (closet) Musician & (experienced) Paraplegic, I find it both inspiring & moving to come across talented musicians with disabilities. Although my music history is not much compared to the folks listed on this page, there is always room for improvement for learning and developing musical skills.
	.Andrew Hewitt: Drummer - mild Cerebral Palsy.* Formed The "Drums in Motion Project" a drum therapy workshop program aimed at disabled children.
	*The Raven Drum Foundation Rick Allen the drummer for Def Leppard lost an arm in a car accident in 1984. "The first sound we ever heard was our mother’s heartbeat: The rhythm of life. Each and every one of our ancestors came from a tribe of people who all sat around a fire and communicated through percussion, through rattles and drums."
	*Vic Chesnutt: Singer, Guitarist, Paraplegic- "The big regrets have nothing to do with me. I look at the world and think, 'God, what a crazy world.' I think, 'God, it was so close. We could have lived with the Indians and not killed them all. That would have been great.' We were close, so close, right on the edge from realizing, 'No, you don't want to slaughter them.' We could have had a whole different world in the Americas. That makes me depressed."
	*J.P. Williams, Singer Guitarist - Blind - JP is now an active part of the music landscape in Music City and is considered by many critics as one the best emerging artists in the Southeast.
	*ABÒN: Musician, Paraplegic- Music Genre: Electronica. *Abon was the first musician listed on Future Link.
	*Anthony Rain Starez: Writer, Musician, Paraplegic; sings with the rock/pop trio Free Spirit in the Tampa Bay Florida area. Tony sings with acoustic guitar and violin
	*Pastr S'wayne of Metro Houston has been rapping since 1983. But since 1991, he has been flowin' to heal, empower, lead and encourage. He is the first known person to record over five projects with a tracheotomy to be in use.
	*Russ Ward: Singer Guitarist Genre: country, bluegrass, folk and rock - Multiple Sclerosis
	*Robert Wyatt: Musician, Drummer, Writer, Paraplegic A 54-year-old communist and veteran of the psychedelic era, may be the most compelling pop musician working in 1998. Flagpole's Phil Waldorf caught the artist on the phone at his home in England...
	*Curtis Mayfield: A founding father of Soul music...
	*Mike Hamer: Musician, Hammered Dulcimer, Storyteller, Wheelchair Dancer, Quadriplegic
	*Flame - The lead singer, an amazing woman who plays guitar and sings. She has autism and is mentally challenged. She has an amazing voice and learns songs and new instruments in minutes. The drummer who sings background, is blind and mentally retarded. The bass player is paralyzed from the waist down. The rest of the band are background singers, percussionists and 3 dancers.
	* Rob Da Noize Temple Musician Keyboards Producer is Noizemozis with John MoSis Miller: Rob has Erbs Palsy limiting him to the use of only one arm. Genre: R&B, Hip Hop.
	Kina Diamond: Singer, Songwriter, has Muscular Dystrophy.*
	*Van Gogh: Touring Band. Despite their enormous popularity in disability circles, Van Gogh’s songs are notoriously free of references to disability. “We don’t write message songs. We hope our message is in our actions. The fact that we do it well says more than if we gave a seminar.” explains Ricky. Van Gough has developed into a fine band with an exceptional group of musicians.
	Evelyn Glennie - Percussionist Solo Drummer & Deaf (We are of the understanding that Evelyn is 80% deaf?)*
	Anne Bostwick: Songwriter, Singer, with the band Raven Blue, Paraplegic*
	Kevin Reed: Drummer* - Traumatic brain injury survivor - Creator of the Trash Kat garbage can drum.
	*Neil Murray: Drummer; cerebral palsy
	*Jon Weems: Musician Music Maker Quadriplegic
	*David Gregory Lee: Singer - Multiple Disabilities
	*A hard road to travel - Kavelle Anglin Christie - Jamaica Gleaner - Talks with 3 musicians who are disabled. Picture on left: Popular duo Father and Son. - Photo by Herbert McKenis

	FUTURE PLANS FOR FUTURE-LINK: Below are the first of many links to be added here to sites featuring equipment that can be utilized by folks with different disabilities for recording and for live performances, this will include reviews on the latest products available. If you know of specific equipment or are using adaptive equipment let us know about it! Chat room or forums? Any Ideas for us?

	This is not a book written for musicians with disabilities. But, it is a must read for anyone interested in the history, concept, and origins of music. it is written for Songwriters, Performers, Music Students, Musicians, Producers, and answers questions such as 'Why Is There Such A Thing As Music? I have been reading this for weeks and am still not through the 3rd chapter. The information in this book boggles the mind. Chapters include: Evolution, the Brain and Rhythm - Evolution, Music, and Emotional Arousal - Where Chords Come From - and a lot about human evolution and both the church's and Religions roles in suppressing certain forms of music through out history. This book would serve as a music students bible. -Bassinat66
	RECREATIONAL MUSIC MAKING FROM NAMM - 2008 NAMM SHOW GALLERY HERE IS WHERE TO CHECK OUT THE NEWEST PRODUCTS FOR MUSIC MAKING - LIVE & RECORDING
	DRAKE MUSIC PROJECT provides opportunities for disabled musicians of all ages and abilities to explore, compose and perform music and brings together disabled and non-disabled artists... ...Our vision is a world where disabled musicians have the same opportunities to make music as their non-disabled counterparts, and a culture of integrated music-making where disabled and non-disabled musicians work together as equals.
	Electronic Musician explores how physically disabled musicians use technology to help them record and perform their music ... Greg Harry is featured in this article.
	can you hear what you think you can hear? i discovered that i had lost 80% of my hearing in my right ear b-4 i noticed it! duh hello?
	Are You at risk? It's not cool when You can't hear. HEAR NET
	NAMM 2008 - Welcome to the EM, Mix and Remixmagazines Winter NAMM exclusive site, brought to you by Intel. We've packed in all of our trade show coverage in one easy-to-find spot. So for those of you who can't get to Anaheim, Calif., for the show, bookmark this page for late-breaking news. If you're at the show, see Winter NAMM through the editors' eyes with our Tech Minutes video, listen on the podcast and read about all of the happenings on our blogs.
	This opening page has filled up to the point where we added a second page: PAGE 2
GET YOUR BASS GEAR FROM BEAVER FELTON

E mail: Future Link Musicians Counter Installed January 20 2008 - By Bassinat66 -	Music & rhythm, the melody, the beat; sound travels through time & space through the muscles and nerves of our bodies mind & spirit and has the power to Heal. Apollo was the god of music and medicine, Plato said that music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination... Music gives us movement; the tapping of the foot and the nodding of the head to music is the beginning, from these seemingly insignificant movements we can go into full dance mode if we let loose of our selves and our minds and let our bodies move to the music: Dance To The Music! Make Music! Let Music Heal our bodies and our minds.
	TO PAGE 2 OF MUSICABILITY

Electronic Musician explores how physically disabled musicians use technology to help them record and perform their music ... Greg Harry is featured in this article.