Below is a list of five musicians who are living with some sort of disability. Despite this, they have followed their dreams and achieved their goals as both prolific musicians and beacons of representation.
Ross McGregor
Ross McGregor wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps as a child and pursue a career as a mechanic. That dream was soon shut down when he started losing his sight at a very young age. Despite slowly going blind, he began playing piano at the School for Blind Children at Wahroonga in Sydney and found a quick passion and connection to that. McGregor also but started a recording studio that grew to be widely respected in Australia.
Lokust Luciano
Lokust Luciano has Cerebral Palsy. He has established his role as a talented rapper, garnering respect in the industry with his powerful lyrics and unceasing determination that often relate to his disability.
Daniel Potts
Daniel Potts was born without arms and with severe scoliosis of the spine. This didn’t stop him from starting to play the drums at only 11 after watching his cousin play. It took him some time to configure everything, but he figures out how to best play after he learned that he was left-footed.
Arthur Jaja
Arthur Jaja is a Nigerian native and an opera singer that can bring a tear to a listener’s eye. At the age of 27 he had a stroke that led that affected the left side of his body and made it difficult for him to sing as he had before. He was determined to keep singing, though, which he’d been doing since age 10. His style changed drastically but he never let up on his passion.
Miguel Pereira
At the young age of 19 Miguel Pereira was diagnosed with schizophrenia. In his home country of Portugal there wasn’t a lot of understanding or empathy for this disorder, and it took a long time for him to get the treatment he needed. Music was a way for him to deal with his illness and express himself dependably through that. He started playing guitar at age 15, and was able to turn his hobby and passion into a career.
