Greg Ledford

Although I've been playing piano by ear since our family acquired an upright when I was 11, I was diagnosed with a crippling, terminal disease in 1999 that has greatly affected my hands. For all intents and purposes, my left hand today is rendered useless and I only retain about 5-10% of range in motion in my right hand. I thought my time at the piano was over... that is until a friend of mine introduced me to the magic of a software program called, "Reason!"

Today, although I am no longer able to play the music I hear in my head on piano anymore, this technology has allowed me to still compose and produce music using this computer program that interfaces with a keyboard. I use the program to tediously layer different instruments and sounds, one hand and one track at a time.

My music has a very unique sound to it. I've never been trained in any type of music performance outside of participating in high school and college show choirs and concert choirs. So I probably approach composing and orchestrating my pieces in an unorthodox way. The best description I've heard yet of my music is, "ethereal funk." If you like instrumental music by the likes of Paul Hardcastle, Harold Faltermeyer, The Art of Noise, etc... you may find my songs to your liking!

Many people find my story and dedication to music at this point in my life inspiring. The disease I was diagnosed with is called "scleroderma." My condition has progressed over the past three years to include fibrosis in my lungs and vascular system. I am currently on disability and have been on continual supplemental oxygen now since January of 2009. Last year, we considered a double lung transplant, but my team of doctors did not feel the transplant would provide me with a greater quantity of life. I am also too far advanced for stem cell transplant. My wife and I continue to have hope that newer stem cell technologies and procedures will provide us with an answer in the next several years.

At this writing (Oct. 2010) I am on a new prostacyclin drug protocol to intravenously deliver a continuous flow of a drug called Remodulin using a battery powered pump connected to me via a catheter that exits just below my collarbone. We have great hope that the new drug will bring down my pulmonary artery pressure and relieve the current stress on my heart that continually threatens to put me into congestive heart failure.

Now that I am on disability, my goal is to release an album of my more recent music compositions called "Soul Searching," and make it available for download from a site like Apple's iTunes.

My dream is to be able to eventually use my music to raise money for my wife and I as well as charities that help terminally ill and/or disabled children. I was 29 when I was diagnosed with my condition. My heroes are kids who have NEVER had a normal, healthy life. I have the luxury of facing my challenges with the mind of an adult. My heroes are the kids who face their challenges on a daily basis and keep their courage, optimism and sense of humor intact.

Warm Regards!

Greg Ledford