on the turntable: Melody Gardot

I had heard of Melody Gardot before, but it wasn't until a few weeks ago while watching an interview with her on CBS Sunday Morning (one of my favorite shows) that I learned her full story. A Philadelphian tried and true, she was riding her bike through the city at the age of 18 when she was hit by an SUV that ran a red light (the driver fled the scene). She was left with serious spine and head injuries and confined to a bed for a year; the head injuries left her hyper-sensitive to sound and light, and she was forced to relearn how to speak coherently and walk. She wears dark glasses most of the time due to her light sensitivity, and walks with a cane since she is prone to bouts of vertigo.

Having had an interest in music when she was younger, Melody used music therapy to aid in her recovery and found a true talent for songwriting in the process. Her music is extremely soulful and her story makes her all that much more intriguing.


(Pardon the cheesy album cover... this is the only version YouTube would let me embed!)