The Blind Singer

Even though technology is available that would enable one to compose and produce their own music easily, when it comes to marketing and convincing fans that your music is good, you need to make a substantial investment. There are many people who have taken up opportunities like singing competitions with the purpose of winning a coveted price only to become famous and make music their chosen career.

Others have begun in humble beginnings but thanks to video popularity, they have finally attained their dream. Have you ever thought how difficult it is to be a famous musician especially when you are visually impaired? It is not easy as you may think but thanks to the passion, dedication, and help from many mentors, several have attained their dream and become renowned around the world. Ken was born on December 7th, and was named Kenneth Peter Medema. The singer, composer and songwriter was born almost blind.

According to experts, Ken was able to tell light from shadow and be able to see outlines of major objects. Thanks to his passion for music, he began playing the piano when he attained the age of 5 years. At 8 years old, he took lessons in classical music via Braille music, playing by ear and improvisation. At age 25 years, he attended Michigan State University located in Lansing where he majored in music therapy by studying piano and voice.

George Shearing is a well known musician who enjoys international reputation as an arranger, pianist and composer. George has been recognized in jazz clubs for inventive and orchestrated jazz. This became the jazz standard. Shearing was born at Battersea area of London in congenitally blind. He was the youngest of nine children. His musical talent won him several university scholarships but was forced to refuse them in favor of a more financially productive pursuit…playing piano at a neighborhood pub.

Rod Clemmons was born and raised in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. At the tender age of 3 years, he began playing the piano. He came from a musically inclined family but despite being born blind, this did not deter him from attaining his dream. His parents helped to nurture his talent where he was taught by a faculty member of the local university. The image of warrior-bards singing epics was quite popular, and there became a tradition that the great ancient singers were veterans valorously blinded in combat.

This in turn led to the belief that the kobzar tradition had greatly weakened in the 19th century, since the traditional songs were now sung by people who were more like beggars than like warriors.

Kononenko points out that there is no factual basis for this image, and her research showed that the minstrel tradition was still very strong and creative up until the s. Because the art of the kobzars was language-specific and included themes dealing with historic subjects of Ukraine's past, the blind singers were often the focus of persecution by occupying powers, according to researcher Mikhailo Khay. This persecution reached its height under Joseph Stalin in the s, when many forms of Ukrainian cultural expression were crushed by the communist government of the Soviet Union.

In the late s many bandurists were arrested and some shot. Documents have been discovered to show that the renowned bandurist Hnat Khotkevych was executed in and the blind kobzar Ivan Kucherenko was shot in Numerous sources claim that there was an organized large scale massacre of Ukrainian blind musicians in the s, though this has not been confirmed by official documents, and most details of the incident including year, place, and method of execution are disputed.

Traditional blind minstrelsy by the late s had largely vanished. Today, the traditional repertoire of the kobzars is performed by sighted, educated performers. During her research in Ukraine, Kononenko found only one blind folk performer of the old songs, a man named Pavlo Suprun , who had studied bandura playing and voice at the Kiev State Conservatory. During the medieval and early modern eras, harpists , pipers , and other musicians traveled around Ireland, providing music for dances and other occasions. As in Ukraine, many of the Irish musicians were blind.

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It was common practise for blind or disabled children to be taught a musical instrument as a means of supporting themselves, as they could not perform hard labour. There is a long tradition of blind organists.

In the 20th century some of the greatest organists were blind, including the great German Bach scholar and teacher Helmut Walcha — , and a number of prominent French organists and composers for the organ including Louis Vierne — , Andre Marchal — , Gaston Litaize — , and Jean Langlais — , as well as one of the current organists at Notre Dame de Paris , Jean-Pierre Leguay b. England has also produced brilliant blind organists in the 19th and 20th centuries, including Alfred Hollins — and David A.

Yet it is a tradition which goes back centuries: She studied organ with another blind musician, David Duffield Wood , the organist at Philadelphia's St.

Stephen's Episcopal Church for many years. In 19th century France and England, piano tuners were frequently blind. The first blind piano tuner is thought to be Claude Montal , who taught himself how to tune a piano while studying at L'Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles in At first Montal's teachers were skeptical, doubting that a blind man could actually perform the necessary mechanical tasks. Montal's skill was undeniable, however, and he was soon asked to teach classes in tuning to his fellow students.

Eventually, he also overcame public prejudice , and landed several prestigious jobs as a tuner for professors and professional musicians. Montal's success paved the way for other blind tuners, both in France and in England, where Montal's example and teaching methods were adopted by Thomas Rhodes Armitage.

10. Ronnie Milsap

Today the image of the blind piano tuner is so ingrained that people in England sometimes express surprise when they encounter a piano tuner who can see. Blind musicians have made a significant contribution to American popular music. This is particularly true in blues , gospel , jazz , and other predominantly African American forms — perhaps because discrimination at the time made it more difficult for black blind people to find other employment.

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In any case, the achievement of blind African-Americans in music is extensive. The first recorded gospel sanctified barrelhouse piano player, Arizona Dranes , was blind, as was Al Hibbler and Ray Charles , one of the most important figures in the creation of soul music. Art Tatum , commonly cited as the greatest jazz pianist of all time, was also almost blind. Stevie Wonder , who was blind from birth, has recorded more than thirty U. However, blind black musicians are still most strongly associated with the country blues.

He was born in Toledo, Ohio to a guitarist father and piano-playing mother. Unlike everyone else on the list he was not per cent blind. Cataracts caused him to lose sight in one eye and he had limited vision in the other. Music came easily to young Tatum and he picked up everything by ear, drawing inspiration from Fats Waller and James P. Building upon both classical and stride influences, he formed a unique sound.

Tatum used inverted and extended chord progressions that were at least a decade ahead of his time and the pianist would greatly influence future jazz giants like Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk and Oscar Peterson. Perhaps the greatest compliment Tatum was ever given was from his hero Fats Waller, when he walked into a club where Waller was playing. Stevie Wonder is a bit of a genius. By the age of 11 Wonder had already signed with Motown. Hit singles throughout the rest of the sixties followed before Wonder let his Motown contract expire.

10. Ken Medema

Facing a showdown with Berry Gordy, the star won complete creative control of all his new work, an unheard of step for any musician at the time. He was in his early twenties with about a dozen classics behind him, still, his best work was yet to come. Wonder perfected the use of the synthesizer, a sound which has dominated pop music ever since. Little Stevie Wonder grew up to change the music industry forever. It is pretty impossible to choose between Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder for the number one spot.

In terms of musical chops, legacy, influence, singing ability and sheer charisma it is a pretty close race. Charles jumps ahead a spot for a couple of reasons. Ray Charles was born in Georgia in and started to lose his sight age five. By age seven it was completely gone. By then his musical interest had already been sparked by a local blues piano player and he quickly became a star at school. Pretty soon he was out on the road learning the ropes with various groups before settling for a while in Seattle. Early on, his records were mere imitations — granted really good ones — of artists like Charles Brown and Nat King Cole, before Brother Ray finally found his feet at Atlantic Records.

He wrote some fine originals but his role as an interpreter of material was second to none. When one had achieved what he had and revolutionized one genre of music and helped invent another then one had earned his right to do as he pleases. Ray Charles died in June at 73, leaving behind him some of the finest recordings in popular music.

No one has ever played the guitar harder than Jeff Healy. An unbelievable talent who sang, as has Stevie Wonder, about seeing their love interests. Sad the depression took Jeff. Healey was a real gift to music.. Unlike any other music.. Agree with the mistake of the non-appearance of Jeff Healey…He definitely needs to be there.

If its of any significance, the last year of the life of Johann Sebastian Bach, he was left totally blind which is confirmed in the wikipedia and died of complications due to a stroke brought on by pneumonia. Art Tatum was one of the greatest Jazz Pianists whoever lived. He influenced many great jazz musicians as is stated in the synopsis for example like Oscar Peterson and Thelonius Monk.

You can regard him to the world of jazz, like you would The Beatles to rock music. What blows my mind that I did not know was No. This is an excellent list as far as I am concerned. Genres — Adult contemporary, classical, easy listening, Latin pop, opera, operatic pop, pop, vocal. Instruments — Vocals, keyboards, flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, harp, harmonica, guitar, drums, melodica.

Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a football accident. Video coverage if lacking but any list of the top blind male musicians that leaves off Ludwig van Beethoven should say restricted to the 20th century. I agree with your choice for the No. I agree with those that point out many other blind musicians that should probably have made it on the list. I can think of several my self. However, I can see the general point that some of thos on the list were major factors and influences in the music industry as a whole and as such deserve a spot.

Gordon is a great player and performer for sure. One of the all time greats though?