People Profile: Billy McLaughlin Continued...
“I got to the point where I said ‘I can’t live anymore without my music,’” says Billy.
Billy has launched a comeback. Drawing upon every resource of faith, prayer, and determination, in 2003 he secretly began the unlikely journey of teaching himself to play in his signature style, left-handed. He started by converting his guitars into left-handed instruments. From then on, he took a little step each day, training his hands and conditioning his muscles to produce melodies once again.
Remembering doctors warnings of a higher likelihood for developing focal
Billy McLaughlin led a special session for young people at the 4th Children & Family Dystonia Symposium in 2007.
In January of 2007, Billy published a limited release of Into the Light, a concert recording of compositions for acoustic guitar with string orchestra. This collaboration with Grammy nominated arranger, Eugenio Toussaint, is Billy’s first as a left-handed guitarist. Into the Light will be released nationally in the fall of 2007 accompanied by a companion concert DVD.
Since his diagnosis, Billy has become a leader in raising awareness of dystonia and a close partner of the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. In August of 2007, Billy performed and facilitated a special session for young attendees at the Foundation’s 4th Children & Family Dystonia Symposium.
“No one should miss out on playing music, or painting, or walking upright and straight, or living a normal life because I didn’t do enough while I had a chance to help,” says Billy.
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Over the next few years, Billy tried to continue to keep
music in his life. He directed music programs for churches and youth groups; he
managed other artists. But he longed to make the music that defined him and
made him whole.
“I got to the point where I said ‘I can’t live anymore without my music,’” says Billy.
Billy has launched a comeback. Drawing upon every resource of faith, prayer, and determination, in 2003 he secretly began the unlikely journey of teaching himself to play in his signature style, left-handed. He started by converting his guitars into left-handed instruments. From then on, he took a little step each day, training his hands and conditioning his muscles to produce melodies once again.
Remembering doctors warnings of a higher likelihood for developing focal
Billy McLaughlin led a special session for young people at the 4th Children & Family Dystonia Symposium in 2007.
dystonia
in his remaining good hand, Billy chose to press on towards an ambitious goal
he had yet to achieve – to perform and record a new project with a string
orchestra.
In January of 2007, Billy published a limited release of Into the Light, a concert recording of compositions for acoustic guitar with string orchestra. This collaboration with Grammy nominated arranger, Eugenio Toussaint, is Billy’s first as a left-handed guitarist. Into the Light will be released nationally in the fall of 2007 accompanied by a companion concert DVD.
Since his diagnosis, Billy has become a leader in raising awareness of dystonia and a close partner of the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. In August of 2007, Billy performed and facilitated a special session for young attendees at the Foundation’s 4th Children & Family Dystonia Symposium.
“No one should miss out on playing music, or painting, or walking upright and straight, or living a normal life because I didn’t do enough while I had a chance to help,” says Billy.
Go back to page 1 of Billy's story...
Click here for PDF of entire article
Visit Billy's Official Website
Return to main Media Center page
Email
this page
Print this page