Recording Artists with Disabilities - Soul, dance & Motown artists
Motown & Northern Soul
Disability: diabetes (source: Hurricane Linda)
Although Linda had only one hit, "Hypnotised" (in 1967), quite a few of her songs are known on the Northern Soul scene (eg "My Heart Needs A Break")
Stevie Wonder
Disability: blind since birth.
Many hits from 1960's up to 1986.
Stevie Wonder's music was almost certainly the main inspiration for
many of Jamiroquai's hits.
Mary Wells
Disability: As a child, she had spinal meningitis, an illness that paralyzed her for a while, and led to partial blindness and a slight loss of hearing. (mentioned in this Mary Wells biography)
Continued working and recording, even after being diagnosed as having throat cancer towards the end of her life.
Started in the Supremes.
Solo hits include "My Guy" and "You Beat Me
To The Punch"
Soul & Dance
Aretha Franklin
Disability: diabetes(source: dlife famous musicians)
Had several hits from the 1960's into the 1990's, still recording in the 21st century.
Perhaps her most famous hit is "Respect", also used as the anthem of the Respect Coalition.
Kenny G
Disability: asthma (source: Get Asthma Help - famous people with asthma)
Hits include "Hi, How Ya Doin'" in 1980's
Saxophonist on several 1980's funk records.
Also collaborated with soul singer Kashif (whose hits include "Lover Turn Me On") in 1980's.
Websites:
Phyllis Hyman
Disability: bipolar (source: Mental Health Today website)
Had a number of hits in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including "You Know How To Love Me", and "Don't Tell Me Tell Her".
Michael Jackson
Disability: Skin pigment disorder Vitiligo (which is how his skin became white).
Started recording at a very young age, in the Jackson Five.
Many hits from 1960's into the 21st century
Curtis Mayfield
Disability: became paralysed from the neck down, following a stage accident in 1990
Had several hits in 1960s and 1970s
Most famous for the Northern Soul classic Move On Up.
Since the accident in 1990, he has released the album New World Order - which he recorded one line at a time
Websites:
Teddy Pendergrass
Disabilities: in a wheel-chair & speech disabled since a car crash in 1981.
Was a member of The Blue Notes (Harold Melvin's backing group)
Also had several solo hits in late 1970's, eg "The Whole Town's Laughing At Me"
Hits since his accident have included "Joy" (1987)
Website:
Mike Skinner
Disability: photo-sensitive epilepsy (source: 3am article in Daily Mirror)
Mike Skinner is the man behind The Streets, a hip hop/garage fusion band, whose hits have included "Original Pirate Material", "Fit But You Know It" and "Dry Your Eyes"
Websites:
Luther Vandross
Disability: Diabetes (source: Disease lists (sic))
Soul / funk singer who had a number of hits in the 1980s and 1990s, his most famous being "Never Too Much"
Website:
Maurice White
Disability: Parkinsons Disease (source: Disease Lists)
Founder member of funk / soul band Earth Wind & Fire.
Since being diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in 2000, Maurice has continued to produce music - including a new album for EW&F, "The Promise", in 2003
Rap
Coolio
Disability: asthma (source: AAAAI Just For Kids)
Has had a number of rap hits, including Gangsta's Paradise and C U When U Get There
Has also acted in films
Phife Dawg aka Malik Taylor
Disability: Diabetes (source: Listd article: Phife Dawg - The Funky Diabetic)
Started with A Tribe Called Quest, has since appeared with other artists.
Since 2000, has been recording solo albums.
Scatman John
Real name: John Larkin
Disability: Stutter
Hits in mid 1990's, including "Scatman" and "Scatman's World"
He hints in "Scatman" as to how his disability aided his ability as a rapper, with the line "the stutter and the Scat are the same"
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