Recording Artists with Disabilities
- Soul, dance & Motown artists

Motown & Northern Soul

Linda Jones
Linda Jones

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
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
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

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

Kenny G

Disability:    asthma (source)
    Hits include "Hi, How Ya Doin'" in 1980's
    saxophonist on several 1980's funk records.
    also collaborated with soul singer Kashif (hits include "Lover Turn Me On") in 1980's.

Phyllis Hyman

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

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

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

    All Music Guide - Curtis Mayfield biography

    in Socialist Worker issue 1678 (6/1/2000), there is an article in memory of Curtis Mayfield

Teddy Pendergrass

Teddy Pendergrass

Disabilities:    in a wheel-chair & speech disabled since 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)

Mike Skinner

Mike Skinner

disability: photo-sensitive epilepsy (source)

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
Luther Vandross

Disability: Diabetes (source)

Soul / funk singer who had a number of hits in the 1980s and 1990s, his most famous being "Never Too Much"

 Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins

Maurice White

Maurice White

Disability: Parkinsons Disease (source)

Founder member of funk / soul band Earth Wind & Fire .

Since being diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in 2000, Maurice has continued to produce music - imcluding a new album for EW&F, "The Promise", in 2003

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