[ Music ] >> This program was made possible from the support of VSA of Texas and Amerigroup. [ Music ] >> Rise up Amerigroup. [ Pause ] [ Rooster Crowing ] [ Multiple Conversations ] >> Hi, folks. I'm Gene. >> And I'm Dave. >> Gene and Dave: And we're the Gene and Dave Show. >> Thank you all so much for watching this episode of the Gene and Dave Show. Today I've hung up my Gene and Dave Show shirt to wear my Studio 6A shirt. Gene, you know what Studio 6A is? >> No, I haven't a clue. What is it Dave? >> It's the old broadcast center on the UT campus where they first started Austin City Limits. >> Oh my God, this is historical, man. >> Yeah, yeah it is. And I was actually at the last show of Studio 6A, so I wore my vintage t-shirt. Well, it was actually only a couple years ago. But, anyway, I snuck in after the show had started. It's pretty hard for a guy in a wheelchair to sneak in. But, anyway, we were able to do it, and we went to see the last couple songs of Lyle Lovett close out Studio 6A where Austin City Limits is filmed on the UT campus. I'll tell you what, that's just the center of the mecca of music here in Austin. You know Austin is called the -- >> Live music capitol of the world. >> That's it, the live music capitol of the world, and it is for a reason. Any time that you go out to eat or you go anywhere there's usually somebody playing music somewhere. And especially if you go downtown to 6th Street or wherever you see and you hear music. So what else should we do on the Gene and Dave Show but head down to 6th Street and see what we can find? And while we were down there we just kind of happened to wander into one of the really nice places downtown, Vince Young Steakhouse. >> Yeah. >> And we talked to some people called Blue Mist. >> Yeah, Blue Mist is a great band. They've been around for 25 years. And I want to give a shout out to Ed Browning. Ed Browning is a talented musician with a disability from Austin who has since moved from Austin. But he got us hooked up with them. And, God, what an impressive band. Let's hear some of their music, and then we'll talk a little bit about them. >> Let's check them out. [ Music & Singing ] >> It's soulful music. And Robert Kelley the head man there that organized this group was telling us that one of the things he thought of early on was accommodations for his players, figure out a way to get everyone a ride to rehearsals. >> Right. I mean it's crazy to think about that aspect of being in a band. But it definitely plays a big part in a band with so many people that have disabilities. >> And in that case, the case of Blue Mist, most of them are blind so they don't drive. But they figured out a way to get everyone together. I think they started at the School for the Blind. But Robert's got some big plans for them. And we were just so super happy they gave us some time to talk with them. But let's hear a little bit about the players in the band. Robert, why don't you tell us about them? >> Basically we all went to school together at the Texas School for the Blind here in Austin but at different times. I'm a little bit older than the other guys like about ten years or something like that. But I started the band when I was at UT. And just was playing around. And then these guys I used to go back out and kind of mentor a little bit at the school and try to encourage the music program out there. And so they were pretty much used to hearing me. And they kind of always wanted to play with my group because the whole idea was like let's get a group of friends together that have a common issue and have the same issues in life as far as music. And also because before that I was a drummer and I've played for other bands. And you were always like the lone blind person in the band. So you always had to try to find a ride to get to the gig or something. So my deal was like, okay, if I can get a group of people together that are talented and have the same interest and we play music together, that's going to be the glue that's going to hold us together first of all, and that we know each other. And coming out of that kind of residential school environment these are like my brothers. But that, and then also and to providing a way for them to get to the gig, not have to worry about that stress and get back home because that's the biggest part of playing music as a visually impaired musician, as a blind musician is to get back and forth to gigs. And so I figured, well, if we do that then that would solve a major problem. So I think that's pretty much evidence of how successful it's been, after 25 years we're still together. And we figure if the sighted guys don't show up we can still do the gig. Our lead guitar player is sighted, and he's the only one. Actually he's playing on bass tonight. >> So there's six of you. >> Yeah, there's six of us. Our original bass player -- we all graduated from the Tech School for the Blind. But he's from Colleen. >> And you're from Lubbock? >> I'm from Lubbock, yeah, and the keyboard player, Jimmy Vinson, is from Pampa which is West Texas. Rodney Hyder, the drummer, he's from Austin. Steve Johnson, our sax player, is from Houston. And our bass player, Rex Pahoa, he's from Hawaii. >> Wow. >> Yeah, but it's a fun group. >> How often do you guys get together and how often do you play? >> Well, we play right now about three to four times a week. We get a lot of spinoffs from places like Vince Young's and Eddie V's and Z-tejas and [inaudible]. We get a lot of spinoffs from there so that's cool. >> I looked at your schedule and you're playing all over the place. Wow. And those are great venues. >> Those are great venues, yeah. >> Soulful music, I love them. They've got a CD out. Look for it on Amazon.com. Blue Mist. They play around town quite a bit. If you go to their web page you'll find a whole list of places that they play. So it should be easy to find them. >> You've got to check out these people live. I mean you can definitely buy their CD and listen to it while you're in the car, but just being there and actually seeing them play and just get into it, it was an incredible evening, and I can't wait to see them again. >> But they're not the only musicians here in Austin. Dave, as a matter of fact, you made a video, music video, featuring our friend Desiree Sturdevant. And the amazing thing about Desiree is not only is she a singer but she's a composer. Now, check this out folks. She's blind but she uses software to compose her own music. She can add or delete tracks, change them around, she's fantastic. But my hat's off to Dave for making the following music video. And this was for Knowbility Dave? >> It was. Anyway, let's check out Desiree and listen to some of the music that she's composed and see exactly how she does it using her computer. [ Music ] >> My name is Desiree Sturdevant, and I am a musician. I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2000, and I am also a mom and a home schooler. So I have lots of different trades that I do. But music has always been my passion and kind of something that I really enjoy doing. And technology has really enhanced my ability to create music on my own without the use of a recording studio and the expense that comes with that. And being able to also network a little bit to get some music jobs where I can sing at weddings or parties when I have time. This first site that I'm on right now is called Dancing Dots, and they actually offer a lot of blind musicians different kinds of products. So there's some for low vision music readers that will enlarge the music for them. There's some that will translate a piece of sheet music into braille music or audio. And then there's what they call their cake talking software that works with Sonar which is a very popular recording program that musicians use at home to do midi recordings keyboard recordings and different things like that. [ Screen Reader ] So a couple great things about the site itself is that, of course, they've made it very accessible being that it's targeted towards blind musicians so it's very friendly with screen readers. They've got the headings labeled. You can see where -- [ Screen Reader ] So I'm able to see which headings are which and the levels that they're at. They've also done a very good job at labeling their links. [ Screen Reader ] And if I want to know what any of that is I can just activate the link. And as you can tell, and I'll show you a list of the graphics on here, the site is designed so that the photographs are described. [ Screen Reader ] So it shows me exactly -- it tells me exactly what the photos are on this main page of the site so that I know this is a person playing a clarinet. [ Screen Reader ] So from this site I can actually order any of these products. They're quite expensive so I don't actually own any, but they are available to all blind musicians. So with this particular product I can actually create my own musical scores, and it will put it on a staff for someone to read it, sight read it, and be able to print it out and read it. So that's one of the first ways that technology has really empowered musicians with disabilities, especially blind musicians. And then the last thing that I use very extensively isn't on the web, but it is a software program that's accessible. It's called Audacity. And with Audacity I can record my vocals or my instrumentals depending on what I'd like to do. And I'm able to make home recordings of myself. I'm a singer, I'm a voice major. So this is a software called Audacity and it's free, and it's a recording software that enables me to create music whether I want to do the instrumentals or vocals, and then I'm able to edit them, create mp3s, make CDs, whatever I want to do with those and play them back. [Background Music] And I can put different kinds of sound effects there as well like echo and different things to enhance the sound quality of the recording. [ Music and Singing ] And this program is free, and it's very accessible. >> Yeah, well, what a lovely voice. And Desiree also told us that she showed us how she buys music online. And some web pages allow better access and others. But it's also an issue for musicians with disabilities accessing online music. >> Yeah, not just writing music but using the computer for ways to get music and hear music and explore new music that people might want to see. So Desiree isn't the only singer that I know. There's several others that have disability in the city. And I can think of some really, really spectacular singers that are deaf and blind and even a few that are in wheelchairs. >> Really? I don't remember interviewing anyone in a wheelchair. >> Yeah, yeah. I mean I've got the clip. >> Well, let's see it. >> You want to see it? I'll roll it. Here we go. [ Music and Singing ] >> Okay, okay, very funny, thank you, Dave. Thank you. >> You didn't know I was there that night, did you? >> Alright, that was a clip of me doing karaoke with Dilka in Puerto Rico. Dave is just showing this clip because he's mad at me. Last Christmas we had a gift exchange, and I gave Dave a coupon for kick boxing lessons. And so he got mad at me so he had to show this. >> Turned out to be not too useful. >> But, anyway, we were in Puerto Rico. I met this beautiful woman, Dilka, and she dragged me out onto the karaoke floor. I fell in love with her but she didn't fall in love with me, Dave. I don't know what the problem is. >> But what I want to know is was there tequila involved? >> There definitely was some kind of alcohol involved, absolutely. Dilka showed us around Puerto Rico. It was just a great time. But karaoke is always an option for someone with a disability who wants to get out there and sing. >> It is. We don't want to give our viewers the wrong idea that everybody in wheelchairs sings like you. In fact, I know a very good singer that sits in a chair, Regina Blye. Remember her? >> Oh, yeah. >> Worked with her on Actual Lives, and she just has a very fantastic, beautiful, soulful, again, voice. Just an amazing performance. [ Music ] >> I was ten, tall for my age, athletic with big chubby cheeks and ponytails in my hair. I had just been selected as an all star of the little gerbils basketball team. I remember the crowds and dribbling that ball. It was like a dance. I was free then. I was a little girl in my own world. I would give anything to recapture that moment. But until then I have to wonder how it feels to be just that free again. [ Music and Singing ] >> Oh, that Regina, that was really a good piece. I mean she's just such a great singer and so soulful and beautiful. Much better than the first wheelchair singer clip that we watched a little bit ago. >> We love Regina. >> But you know, Gene, listening to that song just reminded me of how much music can affect peoples' emotions. They can just make you feel so different. In fact, just coming in here today they had the jam box out and they were barbecuing some hamburgers and hotdogs out there. And just had it cranked up and they were playing. And there was even people out on the front porch there dancing just having a good old time, you know, just really feeling -- just feeling so great and good because there's music playing in the background. One of the things that I've been taught in some of my acting classes even is that music has the biggest effect on our moods and how we project ourselves forward. So whenever you're going in to play a part that's comedic, for example, listen to some comedy or some funny songs before you go in. And that smile that's put on your face will project through when you're doing your character. Or, if you're going in to play a sad part, if you have to go in and cry or be sad and mellow listen to some sad mellow music before you go in. >> Play some dirges. >> Yeah, whatever it takes, you know. Or, even watch Old Yeller. It's not music, but it puts you in that mind set. You listen to it and you start feeling sad so you can bring that out in whatever character you're doing. In fact, you know somebody, right, that used music to change peoples' moods? >> I really do. Jeff Moyer, a musician that's living in Cleveland, Ohio, Jeff has a visual disability as well as other disabilities. Back in 1977, April of 1977 -- >> That was a few years ago. >> Just a few. Jeff and hundreds of hundreds of other folks with disabilities were at the Health, Education and Welfare building in California. They were protesting because the regulations weren't written yet for Section 504 of the Rehab Act, and people with disabilities were outraged. And they were all gathered around there, but somebody grabbed Jeff and said, Jeff, we need you on the steps up there. We need you to start playing. When people hear music they'll start gathering around, we can get them organized them. We need to be all together on this. So they pulled Jeff out and he started playing, and sure enough people just all gathered around the center there. And he played some songs that really got people into the mood about we shall overcome and we shall not be moved, that sort of thing. So this was an historic event that Jeff played at. In fact, we have a news clipping of that so you can see the young Jeff Moyer and see him how he is today. >> On April 5, 1977, proud and defiant, five to six hundred people in wheelchairs, with walking canes and hearing aids stormed the regional office of Health, Education and Welfare in San Francisco. Their purpose? To stop discrimination against the disabled no matter what the consequences. >> Our role that afternoon was to ask the people in the federal bureaucracy to call Washington and press for the signing of 504 as drafted. >> [Demonstration Chants] For hours the demonstrators are forced out of the federal building. Everywhere that is except San Francisco. [Background Music and Singing] Instead of giving in they move in in what will become the longest occupation of a federal building in U.S. history. >> Check this out, Dave. I'm in California, Jeff is in Cleveland, and I hear this song Assistive Technology Boogie. And I said, wow, what a great song. I've got to find out who did this. I did some searching. I found out it was Jeff. I hadn't met him up to this point. I tracked Jeff down, we talked on the phone. I remembered he lived in Cleveland. So I'm from Cleveland. I few to Cleveland. I did an interview with Jeff, filmed it, and Jeff was kind enough to allow me to make this music video with him called Yes I Can. It's also on YouTube. Check it out. [ Music ] >> [Singing] Can I be all that I am, oh, yes I can. Can I see my life's direction in its plan. Can I climb that mountain high, can I fly off to the sky? Can I do it when I try, yes I can. Oh, yes I can, oh, yes I can. Just by living every day just as I am. Because there's nothing I can't do if I really wanted to. And I believe that that is true, yes I can. Can I move right to the head row of the class? Can I grab that ring of shiny yellow brass? Can I win medals of gold, are there stories to be told? Can I shape my own life's mold, well, yes I can. Oh, yes I can, oh, yes I can. Just by living every day just as I am. Because there's nothing I can't do if I really wanted to. And I believe that that is true, oh, yes I can. Can I do the things that test me to the core? Can I overcome these obstacles and more? Can I live with dignity, a life complete and free expressing my humanity, well, yes I can. Oh, yes I can, oh, yes I can. Just by living every day just as I am. Because there's nothing I can't do if I really wanted to. And I believe that that is true, oh, yes I can. And I believe that that is true, yes I can. And I believe that that is true, yes I can. [ Music and Pause ] >> Yes, I can. Man, I can do anything now, Gene. After listening to that song I'm inspired. I can do it whatever it is. >> It is an inspirational song, and Jeff is just the most compassionate person I know. And his emotions really come out in his songs. I would encourage you to go to his website. You'll find a number of CDs there that Jeff has done. The web address is right here on the screen. His name is Jeff Moyer. You can Google him, you'll find his web page that way as well. >> Check him out for some more inspiration. >> Now, Dave, a lot of folks with different types of disabilities play music. And you learned about something called music therapy. >> Yeah, I mean we've showed a lot on the show so far of a lot of different people with varying disabilities that have overcome them through music or have used them to change the moods of other people. But you know music can really affect the way people learn and the way people do things. And sometimes just playing an instrument that you love can be a lot of work. And so some physical therapists have discovered this and thought, wow, let's tie in that joy of music with the work of some physical therapy and create music therapy. And it lets people really just come out of their shell. And, once again, it changes their mood about doing physical activity and gives them something to really enjoy and something to love. I've got a friend, Michael Tidmore who we're going to get to see here in a minute working with his music therapist. And he just loves music. Wants to be a writer. His goal is to someday be a super star. So here he is with his music therapist and in an afternoon that I spent with them doing music therapy. [ Music ] >> Hi, my name is Meredith Gaines. I am a board certified music therapist. My mom actually is an occupational therapist, and I think she was responsible for giving me an interest in the therapy side of how music can be used in therapy. And so I went on from UT Austin to the University of Kansas in Lawrence. And I got what they call a music therapy equivalency. Because music therapy is actually -- it's a four year college degree program. You get your bachelors in music therapy. Since I had a bachelors in music, I had a lot of the required courses. But there were some courses that I was lacking, so I got a music therapy equivalency and decided to go on from there and get a masters in music therapy. >> Alright, excellent. You ready to warm up? >> Sure. >> Okay. [ Music ] >> Good, Michael. >> When my family took and Deborah, of course, we all took a trip to Tennessee to see Crystal, and I'm really glad that -- tongue twisting. I'm really glad that I wrote this song. It's the first country song I've ever written. I did a gospel song of an Elton John song called Your Song one time, and I got emotional about it. Sometimes songs like that can get you emotional. I mean music is really helping me out here. It's what I want to do for a living. I wouldn't change [inaudible]. >> So can you tell me, Michael, what the first chord is? [ Music ] >> It's right next to G. >> Very good. How about we make F yellow. How about we make all of these chords yellow? >> Yeah. This next one I liked to do this song. I did this song with my brother in my band called The Rollers. I was thinking about maybe getting back together. That performance made me really live my dream and made me figure out that this is what I was supposed to do. This is what God sent me here to do. I was the closing act. Me and my band were the closing act for a country singer named Billy Joel Shape. It was awesome. I got a little bit nervous, but once I got up there, did a couple songs, I was fine. They need to make the ramp wider. That's the only -- somebody had to carry me on stage and put me back in my wheelchair. I think I'm going to help. I want to see people that want to sing have a singing career. I think I'll be a legend to them. Anyway, this next song I'm going to play for you me and Meredith are going to sing it. [ Music and Singing ] >> [Singing] He looked down into her brown eyes and said say a prayer for me. [ Music ] She threw her arms around him and whispered God will keep us free. [ Music ] They could hear the line of [inaudible]. He said this is my last fight. If they take me back to Texas they won't take me back alive. [ Music and Singing ] >> Gene, Meredith and Michael were really inspiring me just the way that they try to put music together and sing some of those classic songs. >> Makes me want to sing, too. >> I'm inspired so much, yeah, I think I'm ready to sing. If you want to order the Gene and Dave Show greatest hits, we're still kind of a work in progress, but we want to get people ready. We're going to take pre-orders on our website. >> So make sure you get your copy of Gene and Dave's greatest hits. You know, Dave, another musician we had the pleasure to meet is Jake Williams. >> Jake the Snake, right? >> Jake the Snake. >> I remember Jake the Snake. >> He likes to be called Jake the Snake. Works over there at the Mary Lee Center. Jake is an amazing story. He had his first Grammy nomination at age 16, second nomination at age 18. Couple months after his second Grammy nomination he was in a car accident. Had a traumatic brain injury. Recovered well from it, but he had a hard time getting back into music. >> Yeah, didn't remember the lyrics or some of the chords. >> Yeah. >> But he's still, I mean he was just so positive when we talked to him. >> Oh, he really was. >> Positive outlook, still likes to play music to the best of his abilities. And he uses it, he uses what he can do to change the moods of people once again. >> He does. He plays music with his friends there at the Mary Lee Center. He gets them involved, gets them to open up. And you just can't say enough good stuff about this guy. He was kind enough to do some songs for us. So here's the chance to listen to Jake the Snake, Jake Williams everybody. >> Hey, how's it going? My name is Jake Williams. A lot of people call me Jake, Jake the Snake. Hey, how's it going? Anyways, I've been pretty much playing music all my life. I started out when I was a young age, elementary school and played in a little punk band, just invited my friends home from school and said you all are going to be in a band. [Inaudible] my parents' house. My father and mother both played music. They had bands and there was music going on. So I just took them in the basement, and we just started from there. I learned from different musicians running in and out the house every style of music. I mean I also did [inaudible] upright bass. So I've been influenced by a lot of music. When I started getting into middle school I was doing the band. a classic rock band, and that's when I got Grammy nominated the first time. Put our first album out, best rock album of the year but we [inaudible]. That's always nice. >> At age 16. >> Especially at 16. Had a good time with that band. When I was about 18 I guess I joined another band and put out an album, We Shall Overcome, best rock act in my hometown Chattanooga, Tennessee two years in a row. We didn't even have to worry about that. I mean we were playing all [inaudible]. And then I was released out and I got Grammy nominated again for best rock album of the year. Didn't win that. I wouldn't be here [inaudible]. But anyways so I've had my fair share of playing all over the south. I moved to Austin, Texas about four years ago. That band broke up [inaudible]. We broke up and I was kind of down and out, and I moved to Austin, Texas. Two months later I got in a hit and run accident. I had a traumatic brain injury. And they sent me to this rehab over here where I'm at now it's called the Mary Lee Foundation. And they really did me good. Within that same year I recovered. My recovery was so fast I was working for them within the first year. I went from client to staff in the first year. And after I got out of my accident I was scared to touch my bass [inaudible]. And I was scared to touch it because I didn't know how emotional I would get if I couldn't play. So I didn't touch the thing for months. It sat there on the bed. That's before I moved here. I needed help [inaudible]. I was scared to touch the bass. It was about four months ago that I touched it [inaudible]. But it didn't take long from there. I was rusty, definitely rusty I'll tell you that. I'm still rusty. I don't know. I wouldn't cry. It wasn't as disappointing as I thought it was going to be. I picked it right up. Since then I started calling and I started working so much every day. Really music is more of a hobby for me. [Music] This song right here is about Pink Floyd. It's called Wish You Were Here. One, two, three. [ Music and Singing ] >> Thanks, Jake and thanks to all your friends out there. We appreciate it. You know Dave and I are celebrities, and being celebrities we get invited to a lot of functions. One of them was to the after parties at South by Southwest. And Dave and I had the good fortune to meet some of the folks at South by Southwest a couple years ago, the Goodwill Band. We interviewed them, well Dave did. He's got a much stronger voice than I do. Dave interviewed them, and then we went to one of their after parties and listened to their music. >> Yeah. >> They made a great movie called For Once In My Life. But it's all folks with disabilities from the Miami area. They were working at a Goodwill down there. And one of the folks at Goodwill says, you know, I think we could make a band. >> Right. >> So helll got these people together and they learned music, played in a band. And the movie is unbelievable, but we'll have the link to the YouTube video for that movie on our web page. Look in the show summary section. >> It's really a great story of how these people used music to not only get people to come into work as you know how, man, some days it's just really hard to get up out of bed and get to work. But for these folks, most of which have cognitive disabilities and need something a little bit extra to help them get out of bed and to get to work, and then also help them help their behavior once they're at work and to keep them focused. Music became such a huge reward to them that it's widely looked forward to going to work. And I think if I had a band in my office and got to play it like that -- >> I'd be working weekends. >> Yeah, exactly, exactly. It'd be a lot of fun. So I really admire these folks that have thought outside the box and put this band together. And the movie is really a great movie. If you ever get a chance to watch it you really should, For Once In My Life. Now, let's take a listen to them and see what you think. >> Yeah, well, the film For Once In My Life is about the greatness that exists in each one of us and what people with disabilities or any person can do when given an opportunity to succeed. That's basically the message of the film. The Spirit of Goodwill Band has been a band that's primarily made up of people with disabilities, all kinds of disabilities, physical and mental disabilities. We started as a small choir about 14 years ago, eight or ten voices, and it became and developed into a full band of 28 people on stage with different instruments. And that's what the film is all about. >> So how did the project start for a film? >> Well, it was about two years ago. We were doing performances for all these years, and then we noticed that when people were looking at the stories of these musicians we produced some short videos to play in between songs. We saw the reaction of people how they were connected with the musicians. We said, well, this is a great story here so we need to try to put it on film and to tell how this group came together, how they were able to learn to play instruments, how they were able to connect with each other in a way that music empowers them to give them a voice, that actually gives a voice to somebody that can't really talk. And so we began to develop that idea and then work with Jim, our producer, and then almost two years shooting the footage and putting it together. And then finally we're here releasing the film here. [ Music and Singing ] >> Yeah, that was great being able to spend some time with the Goodwill Band. But there's a lot more music we haven't covered. There's more musicians in Austin. D-Madness has got a web page and Facebook page. And his web address is -- where did we put that, Dave? >> It's right down there on the screen. >> There it is, alright. Look up D-Madness. >> Look how that just pops up like that. >> It's amazing. Or, if you live outside of Austin look up the Coalition of Disabled Musicians and see what they've got going on. >> And sometimes it's really hard for people with disabilities to get into music. And if you want to find out more, if you're a book person and really love books, we're going to suggest a book for you. Here's the cover of it, and it's called Music, Disability and Society. And it's written by Alex Lubet. He challenges the rigid view of technical skills and writes about music in relationship to disability studies. He addresses the ways in which people with disabilities are denied the opportunity participate in music. Elaborating on the theory of social confluence, Lubet provides a variety of encounters between disability and music to observe radical transformations of identity. >> Dave, I couldn't have said it better myself. >> It's a book definitely worth checking out. >> Alright, folks, take care. >> It's been a great show. We'll see you next time. [ Music and Singing]