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Another Famous SDer
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Posted by: Amelia Walker ®
05/16/2008, 10:41:31
The other night my husband and I were watching a VH1 special on the 80's/90's famous rap duo RUN DMC. The 2 were being interviewed and Darrell, one of the members, started talking about how his voice started to fail him when they were still performing. He then mentioned he had been diagnosed with Spasmodic Dysphonia. I could hear it in his voice, but he either gets botox or has a very mild case of SD. Even though I live with SD, I felt really bad for him - his whole life revolved around his voice. He seems to have accepted it and has a really good attitude about it. I think I heard him say he still performs once in a while even. I hadn't heard about him - just thought anyone in their 30's or 40's might remember the group.



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Re: Another Famous SDer
Re: Another Famous SDer -- Amelia Walker Top of thread Archive
Posted by: The Godfather ®
05/16/2008, 16:52:56
That's interesting.
I "googled" (Darrell DMC spasmodic dysphonia) and got a lot of hits about his SD.
It appears he has made it very public knowledge of the disorder.
I turn that's great for all of us with SD. As more people become aware of this voice disorder, maybe the faster we can get going to finding a cure.
I wonder if the SD didn't bother him while he was singing, just like so many of us.
Thanks for the info!
Raymond
AD/SD



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Re: Another Famous SDer
Re: Another Famous SDer -- Amelia Walker Top of thread Archive
Posted by: Mary Salisbury ®
05/17/2008, 01:08:37
I have read something about Darrell of RUN DMC and think it's cool he's gone public with his disorder.

And speaking of famous people, tonight Robert F. Kennedy, JR., who is very involved in the environmental movement, was on Dave Letterman. As many of you know, he has SD. I've read before that he gets botox, but his SD is still pretty evident in his voice. Somehow,though, he seems to be able to talk for quite awhile without his voice getting progressively tighter sounding. His voice sounds a little gravelly and he has a little of the shaky sound so many of us have. He sometimes sounded strained, but I didn't notice delays at the onset of words. Maybe his botox helps with that. Does anyone know which type of SD he has?

He also does a radio show on Sunday afternoons on Air America. (The whole show is on the environment, global warming, etc.) I think it's pretty cool that he just gets out there and does the best he can with his voice. He seldom mentions his SD--except when asked about it, or if he's speaking at an SD event. I've read some blogs where people have expressed annoyance with his voice (people who don't know he has this disorder) but most people just recognize that he has voice issues and are glad that he is doing such a great public service with his radio show.

Anyway, it was interesting to hear him speak. We SD'ers don't often get to hear others speak who have SD... it's kind of nice to know what we might sound like to other people.

Mary
AB/AD SD




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Re: Another Famous SDer
Re: Re: Another Famous SDer -- Mary Salisbury Top of thread Archive
Posted by: shakyvoiceguy ®
05/17/2008, 12:39:53
Robert Kennedy Jr. is my absolute hero! I've been searching the internet for videos of him speaking. For some reason, watching and listening to him speak, even with that shaky voice of his just seems to inspire the heck out of me. Not to mention that I agree with so many of his political and environmental views. It blows my mind that a person with a vocal disorder as noticable as SD would choose to be such a public figure and do so much public speaking. For me, he is a great role model. Whenever I hear him speak, I feel better about having SD.
I too have seen some pretty ignorant comments posted on websites about his voice. People think he's nervous and lacks confidence. It reminds me of a time when I started to try to explain to my former boss that I thought I had SD. When I brought up my voice he said, "Yeah, you exude nervousness and anxiety." The conversation ended there. It's sad that that's the first impression many of us probably give off, but I guess we can't let other's impressions stop us from living our lives fully and attempting to express ourselves fully.



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Re: Another Famous SDer
Re: Re: Another Famous SDer -- shakyvoiceguy Top of thread Archive
Posted by: Mary Bifaro ®
05/18/2008, 13:08:54
Hi, all.

I attended a lecture by RFK Jr in March this year with fellow members of the local SD support group here. We were all impressed by his passionate environmental work. He never made mention of his SD voice and spoke for over an hour non-stop.

I felt the same way when I heard Diane Rehm speak several times. She remains fully engaged in her conversations with people, and is passionate about many issues.

Chip Hanauer delivered the keynote address at the NSDA's 2009 symposium in late March. He was passionate and eloquent in his remarks about how "SD is one of the best things that has happened to" him.

Celebrity or not, each of us can do alot in "speaking out for spasmodic dysphonia".

Sincerely,
Mary Bifaro
Abductor SD since 1987
Charlotte, NC




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Re: Another Famous SDer
Re: Re: Another Famous SDer -- Mary Bifaro Top of thread Archive
Posted by: Catherine1011 ®
05/20/2008, 06:11:43
Very interesting. I had no idea RFK Jr had SD. I listened to him on You Tube yesterday and was so surprised. Is that what Katherine Hepburn had? Or was that more related to her other health issues?

Also, I saw Mary Tyler Moore on Oprah yesterday and she's always seemed to have a shakey voice. Anyone know about her?




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Re: Another Famous SDer
Re: Re: Another Famous SDer -- Catherine1011 Top of thread Archive
Posted by: Mary Salisbury ®
05/20/2008, 23:30:02
I believe Katharine Hepburn had Parkinson's Disease, but she did sound very similar to some people who have SD. Both SD and Parkinson's are neurological so there are probably some similarities in the way they affect the voice.

I hadn't ever thought about Mary Tyler Moore's voice before. But you're right, she always did have a kind of shaky quality. It actually enhanced her comedy roles, because that shakiness would always become apparent in funny scenes where she was feeling nervous, or saying something that was slightly sarcastic that required just the right timing...and then that kind of worried shakiness would show up and it would be hilarious in a good way. I guess I just always assumed it was part of her acting...but maybe it was just her normal voice quality!

By the way, Katharine Hepburn and Mary Tyler Moore were my two major role models when I was growing up. (I think they were role models for half the women in America!)

Mary
St. Paul




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Re: Another Famous SDer
Re: Re: Another Famous SDer -- Mary Salisbury Top of thread Archive
Posted by: Catherine1011 ®
05/21/2008, 07:50:58
Mary, yes, I liked them both, too! I never missed a Mary Tyler Moore show. She was just so funny! It was neat to see the reunion the other day on Oprah.



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