Do you know how many minority-disabled entertainers exist in this world? Have you ever thought about what the world would be like without these fine men of music--people of talent and delight who gave us musical memories of our younger days and our younger loves?  

These men require extraordinary needs to get on and off stage. Most or all of these entertainers receive some assistance to make their concerts occur. It can be very strenuous to get up stage stairs in a wheelchair. Obviously one could not possibly get there without some supervision, if he were unable to see. These are just some of the challenges disabled entertainers have to face every week. 

Where are the talented disabled women of color, who have tremendous gifts of music? Could it be that it is much more difficult for disabled women to perform in this country? Yes, my fellow Americans, you can find them in many African American churches; that’s where disabled women feel at home and free to sing. That is where their voices fill the air with joy and happiness.

Are you aware of the many songs commemorating the topic of the working disabled in America?

Let me give you just a few examples: Rose Royce’s “I Wanna Get Next To You” from the 1976-77 Car Wash soundtrack. This is a story about a disabled guy in love with this attractive woman. This disabled man is singing to her while he sits in his wheelchair. He is trying to serenade her into his arms. Of course, the able bodied male wins her love; the disabled man goes away broken hearted.

The Gladys Knight song, Window Raising Grannie, recorded on the 1973 Imagination album. Check out this song about a little old disabled lady confined to an upstairs room, who raised a little boy. It is a song about how she would watch him play in the streets and knew when he would slip on the wrong side of the tracks. She would discipline him like any other parent would discipline their kid (s).  

My mom would do the same for me. She would be on the third floor, and I would hear her voice call my name many times. All the children on Jones Avenue knew her voice too, just like “Window Raising Grannie. 

Here are some other great musical artists who have graced our world: Curtis Mayfield--a member of the fabulous Impressions of the early 60’s passed away last year. He became disabled after a sound tower fell on him in 1995, causing him to become paralyzed from the waist down. With songs like Moving On Up, We A Winner, If You Had A Choice Of Colors, Freddie Dead, and of course the soundtrack to Super Fly.   

Jackie Wilson: Had a stroke on stage doing what he loved most, singing. He was doing his famous Wilson twirl and fell silent for the rest of his life. Mr. Wilson would never sing another note. Jackie Wilson died in 1984 in nursing home just miles from my Jersey home. He is famous for songs like Lonely Teardrops, Night, Baby Workout, and my favorite Whispers (Getting Louder), less we forget his most famous song Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher. 

Robert Winters: A California native and a fine man who tried to make it in the music business in 1981, with his smash hit Magic Man. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting this fine young man on the campus of San Francisco State University. A man who made sweet music from his wheelchair and made crowds all over America stand up and cheer.  

Born disabled with muscular dystrophy was a challenge, he told me, but he wanted the world to share his joy.  Many of my springs were very eventful with the music of Robert Winters.     

Most of American knows Teddy Pendergrass--the tall, dark, and handsome lead singer with the bellowing voice in the  Philadelphia soul group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. With hits in the 70’s, Teddy became the signature voice for the Blue Notes with songs like, If You Don’t Know Me By Now, Bad Luck, The Love I Lost, Too Be True, Wake Up Everybody. Then Mr. Pendergrass went on to his solo career with hits like Turn Off The Lights, Close The Door, When Somebody Loves You Back, and Shout and Scream. 

Teddy Pendergrass became disabled after his horrific car crash into a oak tree, paralyzing him from the waist down. He had a long and painful journey in various hospitals and rehabilitation centers in the Philadelphia tri-state area. Mr. Pendergrass had another hit called Joy, singing about his new baby girl and just the joy of being alive again. Mr. Pendergrass will be in concert this week in the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Area.  If you get a chance to hear him do so and enjoy The Sound Of Philadelphia. TSOP. 

I call Mr. Charles Sir Ray with his great classics America, Georgia On My Mind, Hit The Road Jack, You Don’t Know Me, Busted, It’s Crying Time Again, and I’ll Be Good To You. Ray Charles was partially blind at the age of five, then became totally blind by the age of seven from the eye disorder--glaucoma. As a boy, he always wanted to play the piano and with every chance he got, you can bet he was at the keyboards pounding away. After going to school and before meeting Nat King Cole he started for a small band in Pensacola, Fla. Charles then joined Nat’s band and the rest is history. He had many phenomenal appearances on TV and movies. The one I remember the most is Blues Brothers.  

Stevie Wonder, not that Little Stevie Wonder on the American Bandstand black and white tape. Not the Stevie at age nine, standing on center stage with his harmonica clapping his hands to keep time with the music, moving his head back and forth. This became a Stevie Wonder trademark.  

The Stevie who later composed, Fingertips Part Two. We all know all of the other hits from Uptight, to Superstition, to Living for the City, to I Wish, Ebony and Ivory, and last I Just Called To Say I Love You.

This young man was born blind but he would sit on the steps of his home and mimic every song that came on the radio. He would also play his harmonica to almost every melody he heard.  

Barry Gordy, the CEO of Motown caught his act on the streets of Florida. Gordy signed the young star to become one of the greatest singers in the world.  

Jose Faliseino, a blind Latino singer who helps everybody celebrate Christmas year after year with his Spanish rendition of I Want To Wish You A Merry Christmas. 

Issac Pearlman the great violinist of classical music, disabled with polio from birth, has toured the country for many years, teaching children about the classics. I admired the way he would limp on stage, pull up a chair, and just start playing for many hours. When performing at high schools, he would interpret the music he would be playing. 

Gary N. Gray
The GrayLine