The Return of Billy McLaughlin

Who’s Billy McLaughlin?  I didn’t know that name either until I came across this video below.  This guitarist’s comeback made headlines when Billy decided to make a music comeback after being diagnosed with Focal Dystonia (FD).  Here’s his own explanation:

It wasn’t just the swollen knuckles. Something had crept in….into my hand, my wrist, my arm….an unwanted guest that wouldn’t leave. I had no name for this visitor who caused my fingers to suddenly curl, caused the music to veer out of control as audiences cringed, caused my solo career to slowly (against all my stubborn nature) grind to a halt. The doctors call it focal dystonia (FD) and musicians dread the diagnosis. More often than not, FD spells the end of what typically begins as a love affair between the player, the melody, and the audience. Like Parkinson’s, the body no longer can relax naturally when it should. Practiced movements become unpredictable and so very frustrating.

Enjoy the video clip below: