Leon Fleisher: The Sound of Determination

In

By age 16, Leon Fleisher was performing at Carnegie Hall, but when he was in his mid-20s, he was suddenly struck by a rare neurological disease that robbed him of the use of his right hand. Devastated, he sought a cure, and while he waited for the medical community to find him an answer, he learned to be a one-handed concert pianist.

Finally, when he was in his 60s, he found redemption in a popular cosmetic drug and he returned triumphantly to Carnegie Hall.

Now 81, he is thriving like never before, working as a conductor, instructor and finally, a two-handed pianist. Leon recently visited Rollins College as part of the Winter Park Institute and he shared his philosophy of determination and revealed what he discovered when he thought life as he knew it was over.

Click here to listen to more samples of his music and for a full list of his albums.

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Bolder Backstage with Tommy Roe

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Do you remember the name Tommy Roe? In the ’60s, when it came to musical stars he was one of the biggest in the world! In fact, when the Beatles and the Stones were moving up the charts, he was one of the guys they had to climb over. He had 27 songs that made top 30, like Sheila, Sweet Pea and Dizzy! Roe was a worldwide hit. In 1963 he did a tour of England, and you know who opened for him? Four lads from liverpool!

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