An Artist In Motion: Give us Accessibility and Visibility for Musicians with Disabilities
It is a known fact that not all stages are created equal. Now more than ever the conversations surrounding inequality in the music industry have been pushed to the forefront. Musicians, fans, and venues worked together to create a more diverse and accepting space for artists of all genders, genres, race, and sexual orientation. Around the corner and at the frontline of topics like venue accessibility,disability representation and visibility in music is Ryan “Gooch” Nelson. This singer, songwriter, musician and recently-turned music engineer has a story and history that has as much grit as the Jersey mudd he claims to have been brought up in.
(Photo credit Greg Logan)
Name/ Pronouns/ Where you currently reside
Ryan “Gooch” Nelson/ (he/him)/ Woodstown, NJ
When was your accident, how has it affected how you create music, and how did you get your start in music?
I played acoustic guitar in the style of Dave Matthews and John Mayer throughout high school, but my real start didn’t come till after I suffered a spinal cord injury in 2004. I was 18 years old and a senior in high school. I was paralyzed from the chest down, including my hands, partially. After two years of rehab and many tearful nights praying, my grandfather suggested I try playing slide guitar. It wasn’t easy at first. I began laying an electric guitar across my lap and using a thumb pick with a glass slide to play. My good friend Brian LaPann started coming over and teaching me the Blues. After that, we formed the band 61 North, put out two records, and did a ton of touring. We opened for legends like the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. I learned a lot in that band and made some valuable contacts over the next eight years before launching my solo career with my current group Gooch and the Motion.
“For me, one of the biggest challenges has always been accessibility of venues and stages.”
Biggest challenge as a dissabled musician?
For me, one of the biggest challenges has always been accessibility of venues and stages. I use a very heavy motorized wheelchair that can’t be simply lifted on and off the stage. Aside from that, it truly takes a team to make sure I get out of bed, get myself and my gear to the show, and perform with my band mates. My wife, my Mom, and my road manager Buzz are the real rock stars
Things you’ve done as dissabled musician you might not have been sure you can do but have done?
At this point, the list is almost too long to pick only a few, but overall I’ve traveled to Nashville, California, St. Louis, and Ohio to perform. I didn’t think traveling like that would be possible. I’ve performed at a Presidential Inauguration, opened for heroes of mine like the Wailer’s, Zac Brown Band, and Robert Randolph, and now I’m moving more into the field of producing, mixing, and mastering.
Name of organization you’ve been working with, how they found you, and what they do?
In addition to being a producer, songwriter, and musician, I am also a public speaker and disability rights activist. I started my own non-profit, the Music in Motion Foundation to raise money for music therapy initiatives. Then, after meeting some other amazing musicians with disabilities on a Grammy panel in 2021, we got together and founded RAMPD (Recording Artists & Music Professionals with Disabilities) Our work and mission of making the world a more inclusive and accessible place has been profiled in Variety, Forbes, and the New York Times. We aim to be the leading resource for the best disabled music professionals in the biz!
What keeps you inspired as a music maker?
Learning new things, challenging myself, going to live shows, and my faith in God all inspire me. Now that I’m working as a full time Music Producer, I’m inspired by the collaboration it takes to make great music. It’s like learning a new instrument all over again. I also find inspiration in nature as well as ripping Blues on my guitar.
(Photo submitted courtesy of artist)
“Learning new things, challenging myself, going to live shows, and my faith in God all inspire me.”
(Photo credit Brianna Nelson)
Advice to anyone who is disabled but wants to get into music?
There’s never been a better time to get involved. Music can heal you and others. There’s so much adaptive technology that didn’t exist when I was first injured. I’d also tell them that music is a life journey of self discovery and expression. There really is no “making it”, in my humble opinion. There’s just “doing it”. Oh, and Have fun!!!!!!!
What are you looking forward to in music and in life at this moment?
Zaya Creations, the production company I work for, helped me build a brand new studio! I’ll be working on producing music for T.V. and film. I’ve always tried to create a cinematic vibe with my music, so I hope to connect with many content creators and start hearing my music in some major releases. I got married in 2020 to my beautiful and talented wife Brianna. We’ve been writing, recording, and performing together, so I’m looking forward to growing with her in life and music. This fall/winter I’ll be playing Camp Jam In The Pines September 17th and working on a new Gooch and the Motion album for 2023.
