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There are days when I am frustrated with the way I want to play a musical instrument and I make very little progress. In moments of self-doubt, I still remember many musicians / composers who have overcome physical limitations and I am once again inspired to go on. Here is a list of famous musicians who have physical disabilities and popular artists of our times that have hit the ratings.

1. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) – Beethoven became deaf in his 20, but he continued to create such beautfiul music that is still very popular today. He wrote his Symphony No. 2, op. 36 (D Major), Symphony No. 3 Eroica, op. 55 (E flat major) Symphony No. 4, op. 60 (B flat major) and other great masterpieces, after he became deaf.
2. Michael Bolton (born February 26, 1953) – An American singer / songwriter, who popularized the songs such as “Said I Loved You But I Lied” and “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You?” is deaf in one ear.
3. Itzhak Perlman (born August 31 1945) – is a virtuoso violinist. He trained at the Music Academy of Tel Aviv then continued at Juilliard School. In 1964, he won the Leventritt, he also won several Grammy and has appeared on various television programs. Perlman had polio when he was 4 that leads to permanent paralysis of his legs.
4. Lemon Jefferson (1893 – 1929) – Blind since childhood, guitarist and blues singer was very popular during the 1920s.
5. William Samuel McTell (1901 – 1959) – lost his sight in late childhood, but became one of the best blues guitarists.
6. Ray Charles (1930 – 2004) – singer, composer and pianist. He became blind at age 7 due to glaucoma. He won dozens of Grammy Awards, and he was awarded  the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Jazz Hall of Fame.
7. Jose Feliciano (born September 10 1945) – Puerto Rico, guitarist and singer who is blind at birth due to glaucoma. He won several Grammy and is considered one of the best folk guitarists.
8. Evelyn Glennie (born July 19, 1965) – The virtuoso percussionist from Scotland, has a hearing impairment since the age of 12 years. She received an award for Best Performance in Chamber Music in 1989.
9. Stevie Wonder (born May 13, 1950) – American singer and musician who has won numerous Grammy and a Oscar is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. As a newborn, his eyes were damaged due to a high dose of oxygen while in an incubator.
10. Jean Baptiste “Django” Reinhardt (1910 – 1953) – A European jazz musician, the two fingers of his left hand was reduced due to a fire. He was known for his improvisations and toured with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1946.
11. Andrea Bocelli (born 22 September 1958) – famous Italian tenor who had glaucoma when he was a child which caused him to become blind. Bocelli is a tenor opera as well as a crossover artist.