Quotes by Famous People - David DeNotaris David is a nationally known speaker, a best selling author, world champion Athlete, AND, he also happens to be blind. David was born with a rare eye disorder Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). The doctors insisted that David's life was hopeless, but David's family had other ideas! To quote David, "My family provided me with the proper information and inspiration for me to overcome the challenge of blindness." Jockey Kent Desormeaux, who rode winning horses in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness races in 1998 and the Kentucky Derby in 2000 and 2002 was hoping to ride Big Brown to be the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years in 2008 (they did not succeed). Desormeaux's second son has Usher syndrome and received media attention before the June 7, 2008 race. Famous People with Retinitis Pigmentosa Rigoberto Tovar García (March 29, 1946 - March 27, 2005). Mexican singer best known as Rigo Tovar, famous for his cumbia songs. Considered a musical pioneer who started fusing electric guitars, synthesizers and rock melody with traditional Mexican music. Born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, he died a few days before his 59th birthday from diabetic complications leading to cardio-respiratory failure. Although raised in his native Matamoros, bordertown to Brownsville, Texas, United States, he got his start in Houston, Texas, in the early 1970s. His music, a blend of cumbia, tropical and rock and roll quickly gained him a large following. His first album Matamoros Querido (Beloved Matamoros) (1971) included the title song and "Lamento de Amor"(Lament of Love), both became hit singles. Through extensive radio play and touring both in the U.S.A. and Mexico he quickly achieved great popularity and wealth . At the height of his fame he was known as "El Ídolo de México" (Mexico's Idol) and "El Ídolo de las multitudes" (The Idol of the Masses). The release of the album Amor y Cumbia (Love and Cumbia) (1976) catapulted him to superstar status not only in Mexico but many other areas of Latin America as well as the United States. He authored among others hits like "Matamoros Querido" (Beloved Matamoros), "La Sirenita" (The Mermaid), "¡Oh, qué gusto de volverte a ver!" (Oh, how nice to see you again!) and "Perdóname mi amor por ser tan guapo" (Forgive me, my love, for being so handsome). He was most successful in the 1980s and retired in the late 1990s but his songs remained popular, specially "La Sirenita". His musical group was "Rigo Tovar's El Costa Azul" (The Blue Coast)"; the group went through several incarnations and is still active and plans several activities in his memory, some of them in the United States of America. During his career he broke several attendance records in Latin America and Mexico(which still stand), sold over 30 million albums, and continues to influence countless artist in several genres. Rigo was easily recognizable by his long, wavy black hair, dark eyeglasses and signature jump at the end of his concerts. In 1979 he broke an attendance record in Monterrey, Mexico at the Santa Catarina River when four-hundred thousand people showed up to see him play a free concert. Local newspapers El Norte (The North) and El Sol (The Sun) ran the story which stated "Rigo Tovar broke previous attendance record held by Pope John Paul II". The Pope had visited Monterrey earlier that year, and his attendance stood at three-hundred thousand. Rigo also starred in several movies, Vivir Para Amar (Live to Love) (1980), Rigo es amor (Rigo is Love) (1980), El Gran triunfo, (The Great Triumph) (1981) and one documentary on his success titled Rigo, una confesión total(Rigo, a Total Confession) (1979). His musical influences were diverse and included elements of cumbia, ballads and blues. His own musical idols influences included Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Pedro Infante, Ray Charles and Ozzy Osbourne. His life was as full of tragedy and controversy as that of success and fortune. He was born and grew up in extreme poverty in a large family where food was scarce and living conditions were extreme. He lost his mother, with whom he had a very close relationship, when his singing career started to ascend. The relationship with his father was tense and difficult, and although several of his brothers were in the band at the beginning; they left as Rigo started gaining all the attention, which happens with most lead singers. Rigo suffered from retinitis pigmentosa a genetic eye condition for which there is no current medical treatment(the reason for his constant usage of dark sunglasses). He started losing his sight in his mid 20's and eventually went blind from this condition, although many people did not understand the ailment and thought it some kind of publicity stunt. Like many popular musicians he had many women in his life, and fathered an estimate of 20 children. In addition to retinitis pigmentosa he suffered fom diabetes. In his later years life became difficult: blind and sick, he was in the center of family feuds. His funeral was held behind closed doors in a notable funeral agency in Mexico City but fans and some members of his large family entered by force, fortunately without further incidents. He was cremated and his ashes will be thrown on one of Matamoros beaches, according to his wishes.

Steve Wynn Isaac Lidsky David DiGnitaries Jon Welner Willie Brown Woody Shaw Tony Sarre Jim Knipfel