Famous musicians with Focal Dystonia
The following is by no means a comprehensive list of famous musicians with focal dystonia. For the most part I stick with classical guitarists in keeping with who I assume is the primary audience of this blog. However, when a musician offers important information regarding a cure or is extremely renowned I include them also. Additionally, I prefer to list musicians who have a website with a page devoted to focal dystonia. With that said I welcome comments and information about other musicians with focal dystonia so that we may all learn.
David Leisner, classical guitarist. Leisner’s trials have been discussed extensively and he has had excellent results with his own method. See the Guitar Review article, Curing Focal Dystonia or How to Play the Guitar with Large Muscles.
Badi Assad, Brazilian guitarist, singer, and songwriter and her experience with focal dystonia.
Liona Boyd, classical guitarist. She writes about her experience in her biography.
Leon Fleisher, pianist. He was able to cure his focal dystonia through botox and rolfing.
Glenn Gould, pianist. Although never diagnosed with focal dystonia, his biographer, Kevin Bazzana relates an article by Frank Wilson who thought that evidence in a late video and written references indicate he may have started displaying the signs of focal dystonia!
