Song of the Day: El Hombre [YouTube link], composed by jazz guitarist Pat Martino, is the title track to the artist’s debut album, which was released in 1967. On this date in 1944, Martino was born. He began playing professionally when he was 15 and grew into a formidable jazz musician with impeccable technique. But in 1980, he suffered a near-fatal seizure, which required surgery that removed part of his brain. The procedure left him with no recollection of his career or his ability to play the guitar. He committed himself to re-learning his craft and recorded more than a dozen albums as leader in the years thereafter. Neuroscientists marveled at his comeback, which demonstrated how his musical virtuosity helped to shape his brain and revive his life. Though he died at the age of 77 in 2021, his inspiring story remains a testament to perseverence and triumph in the face of adversity.
Postscript: Check out the 2008 documentary, “Martino Unstrung: A Brain Mystery” [YouTube link].
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