Losing one of your senses can be very disheartening. In most cases, most people view the event as the end of the world and simply refuse to engage in any meaningful way. However, there are a few people who have lost their sight and who still manage to climb the upper echelons of society, gaining adoration, fame and proving that there is a capacity, even with disabilities, as famous blind the world.
From politics to entertainment and sports, many blind people have had amazing success. Being different didn’t stop them from flaunting their abilities; rather, he challenged them to do so with vehemence and pride. We’ve compiled a list of ten famous blind people who are an absolute inspiration to the rest of us. They helped us see more clearly that the only limit to what we can do is our imagination.
10 famous blind people who have inspired us all
1. Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder is not only one of the most famous Blind man in the world, he is a legendary singer whose music has spanned the ages, capturing the hearts of young and old with his achingly beautiful piano notes and sweet voice. . Stevland Hardaway Morris is known for his retro funk pop style which spawned many hit songs and propelled him to the top of the charts.
He was born prematurely, six weeks before his due date. During his time in the incubator, he developed a condition called retinopathy of prematurity, a tragic condition that inhibited the growth of his eyes and detached his retina, rendering him blind. Despite this, Stevie had a passion for music and pursued it relentlessly. By age 4, he was a regular in the church choir. He learned to play the piano, drums and harmonica. When Stevie was just 11, he signed to Motown’s Tamia label. Two years later, his hit single, Fingertips peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making the wondering little boy the youngest artist to top the chart.
He went on to produce many more amazing works such as You’re the Sunshine of My Life, I Was Made to Love It, Superstition, and Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours. Stevie has received 25 Grammy Awards and critical acclaim for producing up to 30 US top 10 hits. He is still the only Motown artist and the second African-American musician to win an Oscar, it was for Best Original Song and, thanks to I just called to say I love youstruck. To this day, Stevie Wonder continues to record and produce music with melodic instrumentals and poignant lyrics evoking a variety of human conditions. He is considered one of the top 60 most critically and commercially successful artists in music in history.
2. Ray Charles
This great American musician is affectionately called “The High Priest of Soul” for the fusion of blues, gospel, rhythms and blues. He became completely blind aged just 7 after suffering from glaucoma and subsequent vision loss for two years. Ray became interested in music at an early age and began learning to play classical piano. At 14, disaster visited young Ray Charles. He lost his mother and his brother and had to move in with friends of his mother, who lived in another era.
Shortly after his family was put to rest, Ray was expelled from school for being a prankster. At the age of 16, he left Jacksonville for Orlando in search of better career opportunities in the music world, but instead found misery and hunger. Work was hard to come by and he had to go days without eating, but he was still determined to strive for a successful career in music.
Ray holds the record for being one of the first musicians to be inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. He also received recognition from President Barack Obama for his rendition of “America the Beautiful”, recognized as one of the most patriotic pieces in the history of American music. Ray is undoubtedly one of the most influential musical artists of all time. His presence on this list of the most famous blind is therefore undisputed and well deserved.
3. Andrea Bocelli
The world knows the renowned classical music composers like Bach, Beethoven and Pavarotti, but there is another world-class musician and king of opera who redefined the world of classical music with his angelic voice, and that person is not other than Andrea Bocelli. This great Italian singer, songwriter and performer’s road to fame is as rare and inspiring as it comes. Her mother was advised to terminate her pregnancy to avoid giving birth to a child with many disabilities. She rejected the recommendation and the result of that decision is Andrea Bocelli.
After his birth he was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma. As a child, Andrea found great solace in music, learning to play trumpet, guitar, saxophone, drums, flute, trombone and singing as she pleased. He lost his sight at the age of 12 following a football accident. He didn’t let this setback hold him back from his dreams as he went on to record several award-winning studio albums. He has nine completed operas to his name and has won the prestigious Grammy multiple times. Andrea has earned her place among the most famous blind people to walk the earth. He was recognized as a Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2006 and continues to inspire listeners around the world through the
4. Marla Lee Runyan
Marla is a truly phenomenal woman who has excelled in the world of athletics despite her legal blindness. This American track and field athlete has been blind since she was 9 years old. She is reputed to be a three-time national champion, a daring icon at the Paralympic Games with five gold medals to her name, and the first blind athlete at the Olympics.
She holds a master’s degree in communication disorders and special education. Marla is the author of the best-selling book, No Finish Line: My Life As I See It, in which she shared her story, her challenges, and her desire to live. Marla has won numerous awards in track and field, marathon and road running. It would be hard to talk about famous blind people who move and move the world without the name Marla becoming an admirer and an inspiration.
5. John Bramblitt
Here is another amazing person who made it to this list of famous blind people who inspire everyone. Bramblitt lost his sight at the age of 20 due to prolonged and intense seizures caused by epilepsy and Lyme disease. After losing his sight, he became deeply depressed and lost the will to live until he found relief in painting. He discovered that he could identify different colors by their textures. For him, painting not only allows him to produce images, it also allows him to represent the beauty of the purity of his vision, drawn from the depth of an endless passion to exist and be appreciated.
John’s works have been exhibited in over thirty countries. Her story has been the subject of several media features, including an award-winning documentary. Bramblitt is the recipient of not one but three US Presidential Awards. His exceptional talent was voted the most inspiring video in 2008 after a Clio uploaded his paintings to YouTube. He is the author of the award-winning book, Screaming in the Dark
6. Pete Eckert
If you think blind people can’t create stunning, visually appealing photographs, then meet Pete Eckert. After the doctor diagnosed him with retina pigmentosa, he realized he would never be able to see it until the end of his life. Looking for a source of life, he came across his mother-in-law’s camera and decided to take up photography. His photos are so amazing that most people wonder if the visual artist behind such works is really blind.
Pete has stated more than once that he’s a visual person, he just can’t see, repeating that there are plenty of ways to see that don’t require sight. It uses sound, memory and touch to create exceptional photos every day. He is affectionately called “the tourist in a sighted world”.
7.Casey Harris
This exceptional pop star with only one kidney is one of the most famous blind people ever. During her childhood, Harris suffered from a serious genetic condition, Senior-Loten Syndrome, which affects the retina and kidneys. This condition has made him blind since birth. Following kidney problems, his mother donated one of her kidneys to him. He is currently the pianist of the X-Ambassadors, his brother’s band and one of the most popular American rock bands in New York.
Casey is one of the most successful and popular faces in the music industry, his strength and success despite the hardships he has endured in his personal life is testament to his positivity for his fans and the world he lives in.
8. Helen Keller
At a time when most people couldn’t contemplate the idea of a deaf-blind teacher, Hellen Keller proved that anything was possible. She is considered the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts. Hellen suffered from a condition diagnosed as acute stomach and brain congestion, which left her deaf and blind from birth. She went on to become a world-renowned orator, political activist, lecturer and author. So it was natural that she was inducted into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame in 1821.
9. Derek Rabelo
Derek is truly someone to be reckoned with on this list of the most famous blind guys who inspire us to bring out the best in ourselves. He suffered from glaucoma and was blind at birth. Derek always wanted to be a surfer like his dad dreamed of. Thanks to the support of his father, Derek learned to surf and today he surfs the oceans feeling the sound of the waves. He travels the world telling his life story, which proves that blindness does not hinder your dreams but challenges you to further maximize your God-given senses and talent.
10. David Alexander Paterson
Paterson is the second blind person to serve as governor in the United States. When he was 3 months old, he got an ear infection that spread to his optic nerve and left him blind in his left eye and barely able to see out of his right eye. He then became legally blind. As governor, he read documents from his office by voicemail. Even with his disability, he was a bold and capable leader who took on issues relating to racism, stem cell research, voting rights and more. He is the first black American governor in New York and one of the most famous blind people to enter politics.
Disabilities are only circumstantial and are not inclined to serve as permanent limitations. This list of the most famous blind people proves it.