The expression ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ can be boileddown to its essence in one word: resiliency. It is often the case that peoplewith specific disabilities learn to get around their handicap by developing othertalents, and in the process create a style that is unique. This is as true in music as inany other walk of life. Just as guitarist Django Reinhardt created a highly individualstyle after losing two fingers from his left hand, so did the legendary vocalist AnitaO’Day (1919-2006) overcome the accidental removal of her uvula (the fleshy partof the soft palate which hangs over the back of the tongue) to become one of thefinest exponents of the vocal jazz genre and one of its truly original song stylists.Unable to sustain notes or use vibrato, O’Day used her clean sound to great effectand developed a fast staccato style based more on eighth and sixteenth notesthan quarter notes. She also had excellent intonation, a strong