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THE GUITAR PRODIGY WHO KEPT COMPOSING AFTER HE COULD NO LONGER MOVE

@guitar.unlocked

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Why it worked

The story of Jason Becker's resilience and continued creativity in the face of ALS is deeply inspiring and emotionally resonant, making it highly shareable content.

Summary

This slideshow tells the inspiring story of Jason Becker, a gifted guitarist diagnosed with ALS at 19. Despite losing his ability to move and speak, he continued to compose music using an eye-tracking system, demonstrating incredible resilience and a sharp mind.

Structure

1Introduction of Jason Becker as a guitar prodigy
2Diagnosis with ALS and its devastating effects
3Development of an eye-tracking system for communication and composition
4Continued musical output and enduring spirit despite physical limitations

On-screen text

THE GUITAR PRODIGY WHO KEPT COMPOSING AFTER HE COULD NO LONGER MOVE at 19, jason becker was one of the most gifted guitarists alive. he'd replaced steve vai in david lee roth's band and was headed for superstardom. his shredding influenced a whole generation of players who came after him. then he felt a strange limp in his leg. the diagnosis was ALS, and doctors gave him three to five years to live. he finished his last album with roth using lighter and lighter strings as his hands weakened, then couldn't tour. by 1996 he couldn't speak at all. but here's the part that stops you. his mind stayed completely sharp. so his father built him a system to communicate using only his eyes, and with eye-tracking software he started composing music again, note by note, entirely with his eyes. he was given five years. that was over 35 years ago. he's still here, still releasing albums, still making music without a muscle. on one of his records he wrote: "it has crippled my body and speech, but not my mind."