In this, DARKEST HOUR, GREGG MOFFATT IS ONCE AGAIN BEING REMINDED OF THE WORDS OF WINSTON CHURCHILL, WHEN HE PENNED... " Success is not final.... Failure is not fatal..... It is the courage ...to continue...that counts...." WINSTON CHURCHILL * * * * As his wife, I HAVE WATCHED GREGG FIGHT BACK AGAINST ALMOST COMPLETE DEAFNESS, AND LATER IN HIS LIFE I WATCHED HIM WAGE A SUCCESSFUL BATTLE AGAINST TOTAL BLINDNESS...AND WIN ! BUT, NOW HE FACES THE TOUGHEST BATTLE OF HIS LIFE AND MUSICAL CAREER ! Focal Dystonia of his right hand! BUT, IF ANYONE CAN WIN THIS BATTLE, I AM SURE THAT GREGG HAS... THE RIGHT STUFF. WITH ALL OF MY LOVE AND RESPECT, VALERIE |
| AN ARTICLE FROM THE HARTFORD COURANT FROM 1965, SEVERAL YEARS INTO GREGG MOFFATT'S DANCING CAREER WITH HIS SISTER, LYNN. A PERFORMANCE IN BALLROOM DANCING AT THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF. |
VAUDEVILLE SHOW AT THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF |
IN 1965, GREGG AND HIS SISTER, LYNN WERE STILL GOING STRONG DOING TAP AND BALLROOM DANCE PERFORMANCES FOR CT. MUTUAL LIFE INS. CO AND AS THE ONLY CHILDREN IN THE TRAVELER'S INSURANCE COMPANY TROUPE OF VAUDEVILLE PERFORMERS IN CT AND NEW ENGLAND. BY AGE 66, HE HAD BEEN PERFORMING OR PART OF THE MUSIC WORLD FOR OVER 57 YEARS, NOT INCLUDING HIS INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC FROM HIS FATHER'S PIANO PLAYING AS A CHILD. |
| ..and what if life doesn't allow you TO come back...this time? What then, Gregg? If life says, no...then I would say to all that have known me and were my students, don't feel sorry for me. Because for one shining, albeit brief moment, when I was with each of you... i knew....Camelot! Then I would say, goodbye with the words of a song that I LOVE....for music was God given and a true joy to me. From tap dancing and ballroom dancing as a child, to accordion lessons, and on to piano training with the best.... without a song or a dance....what are we? So, I say.... thank you for the music.... for GIVING it to me....... |
| And then I would surely say to all of you to remember....to.... REACH FOR THE STARS...AS I TAUGHT YOU TO DO. |
GREGG WAS ALMOST TOTALLY DEAF AT THE END OF HIGH SCHOOL HE FOUGHT BACK AND BUILT A WONDERFUL PIANO TEACHING CAREER. HE WENT TOTALLY BLIND FROM DIABETIC NEUR0PATHY AND THEY SAID IT WAS OVER AND THAT.HE MIGHT NEVER REGAIN HIS SIGHT. HE SPENT YEARS REBUILDING HIS EYE SIGHT AND RETURNED AGAINST INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS. THEN HE WAS BROUGHT DOWN BY FOCAL DYSTONIA OF HIS RIGHT HAND THAT WAS TO RUIN HIS PIANO TEACHING AND PIANO PLAYING. DESTROY HIS INNATE ABILITY TO COMPOSE MUSIC. IT WAS FINALLY OVER. AND YET, THOSE THAT KNEW HIS STORY... COULD HEAR HIM SINGING INSIDE HIS SOUL TO THE WORLD....AND WONDERED...WILL HE COME BACK, EVER? |
| FROM COMPLETE DEAFNESS |
| TO THE DEBILITATING PAIN OF FOCAL DYSTONIA |
| THROUGH COMPLETE BLINDNESS |