Left to right: Roger Preston, Philip Howells, James Rose, Matthew Scott, Kate Risdon, Siobhan Clough and Charlotte Bott. Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian The BSO has gone a stage further, treating music-making by disabled musicians as one of its…
James Rose trainee conductor Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Cerebral Palsy
“Music is an extremely important part of my life. Not only is it the career I’ve chosen to pursue but it’s also integral to my personal life. Music has an amazing ability to lift moods, I think that’s because it’s…
Neurodiversity under Capitalism and Socialism
What is the experience of autistic, dyslexic and other neurodivergent people under capitalism? What more can socialism offer? And how do we get there? An illustrated talk by Janine Booth …first posted 7th November 2018 18minutes
Evelyn Glennie, 1965– World leading percussionist, deaf
“Our vision is a society where communication and social cohesion are improved by the act of listening” “My first experience with percussion was seeing and being inspired by my school orchestra at the age of 12. I knew I needed…
Connee/Connie Boswell 1907–1976. Jazz/Popular singer, polio survivor
“Connie Boswell (1907-76) was a white southern singer from New Orleans, first with two family members in a close harmony vocal trio as the Boswell Sisters in the 1930s, when they were major radio stars across the US, and then…
Ian Dury 1942–2000. Rock Performer and song writer, polio survivor
“Ian Dury (1942-2000), that ‘flaw of the jungle’, produced a remarkable and sustained body of work that explored issues of disability, in both personal and social contexts, institutionalisation, and to a lesser extent the pop cultural tradition of disability”, George…
Jerome Felder AKA Doc Promus 1925–1991. Writer of popular songs, blues singer and polio survivor
Brooklyn-born Jewish Jerome Felder reinvented himself first as a blues singer, renaming himself Doc Pomus (1925-1991), then emerged as one of the most brilliant songwriters of the early rock and roll era. His songs embody a greater emotional depth and…
Joni Mitchell 1943– Singer Songwriter. Polio survivor
Joni Mitchell ~1943 Singer Song Writer Polio Survivor From Wikipedia, Roberta Joan Mitchell, CC (née Anderson; born November 7, 1943), professionally known as Joni Mitchell, is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Drawing from folk, pop, rock, and jazz, Mitchell’s songs often reflect social and environmental ideals as well…
Ray Charles 1930–2004, Blind Rhythm and Blues Singer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004), known professionally as Ray Charles, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and composer. Among friends and fellow musicians he preferred being called “Brother Ray”. He was often referred…
Itzhak Perlman 1945– Polio-surviving classical violinist
Itzhak Perlman (Hebrew: יצחק פרלמן; born 31 August 1945) is an Israeli-American violinist, conductor, and music teacher. Over the course of his career, Perlman has performed worldwide, and throughout the United States, in venues that have included a State Dinner at the White Househonoring Queen Elizabeth…