{"id":27599,"date":"2021-11-01T08:10:34","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T08:10:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cmshub.wpengine.com\/?p=359732"},"modified":"2024-11-03T15:14:10","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T15:14:10","slug":"born-blind-with-50-chance-of-survival-20-year-old-musician-defied-all-odds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/born-blind-with-50-chance-of-survival-20-year-old-musician-defied-all-odds\/","title":{"rendered":"Born Blind With 50% Chance Of Survival, 20-Year-Old Musician Defied All Odds"},"content":{"rendered":"

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20-year-old Matthew Whitaker, of Hackensack, New Jersey, was born three months premature and blind, and doctors said he had less than a 50 percent chance of surviving.<\/span><\/p>\n

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They also said that if he did survive, he would never walk or speak.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: YouTube\/Inside Edition<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not only did he survive, he grew up to be an incredible musician and has defied all odds. By the age of three, Whitaker had already taught himself how to play \u201cTwinkle, Twinkle Little Star\u201d on the piano.<\/span><\/p>\n

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When he was a teen, he performed with his church\u2019s band, and has even opened for Stevie Wonder on the Apollo stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: YouTube\/Inside Edition<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today, he is a musical whiz and, despite being blind, plays the piano, drums, organ, keyboards, and percussion. He has taken his talents to all parts of the world, including Paris, Belize, and Spain.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Whitaker continues to impress everyone around him and certainly doesn\u2019t let his disability stop him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: YouTube\/Inside Edition<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI always tell people, \u2018follow your dreams. Don\u2019t let anyone tell you you can\u2019t do something,’\u201d he told<\/a> Inside Edition.<\/span><\/p>\n

He has recently celebrated the release of his third album titled \u201cConnections\u201d at Harlem Stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: YouTube\/Inside Edition<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Harlem stage is a special place for Whitaker. Not only was he classically trained in Harlem at the Harlem School of Arts, he also received the \u201cEmerging Artist Award\u201d there in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, Harlem is where he will have his CD release party, which brings all of his success full-circle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hear more of Whitaker\u2019s incredible story in the video below:<\/span><\/p>\n