"I have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It has crippled my body and speech, but not my mind."
These words appear upon the back of an album called Perspective by Jason Becker, one of the most talented and determined guitarists of all time.
Becker began playing in his early teens, and at 16 was paired with Marty Friedman to join the super-guitarist group 'Cacophony', which allowed both young guitarists to showcase their skills and launch their musical careers. At 20, Becker was recording the album A Little Ain't Enough for David Lee Roth's band, he complained about a 'lazy limp' in his leg, and was shortly diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease: a disease that gradually paralyzes the body, commonly leading to death. Jason was given 3-5 years to live. This was in 1989.
Jason finished recording the album despite his increasing inability to move his fingers or walk. Eventually he could no longer speak, but his father developed a system whereby he could communicate through moving his eyes. Jason continued composing, his father watching his eyes and translating what he saw onto guitar, communicating with his son until he knew exactly what he wanted. Unable to record them himself, the albums he has recorded since - Raspberry Jams and Blackberry Jams amongst them - have been recorded by other talented guitarists he has met and played with in his career, including Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, Marty Friedman, Joe Satriani...
Jason Backer is still alive and composing, 21 years after being given 5 years to live.