JUSTIN GONZALEZ

The Music that MS Can’t Silence

few years later, I developed a lesion on the part of my brain that affects memory. That was the end of my opera career.”

Around the world, so many people battle Multiple Sclerosis, openly and silently, but here in our City of Brotherly Love, we have some of the best care and research on the planet. Gonzalez recognizes that some of the best MS doctors are in Philadelphia and that Penn, Temple and Jefferson provide exceptional care.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) hosts an annual walk that starts at the Art Museum, which is scheduled for May 6, this year. The NMSS also hosts bike rides, with one called Coast the Coast in Deal, NJ on May 13, 2023. These events help to raise awareness about MS and bring in much needed donations to fund research and support for those impacted by the disease.

Currently, we all are hearing about Christina

Applegate and her emotional journey with Multiple Sclerosis. A year ago, it was Selma Blair. Further back, Art Alexakis (lead singer of Everclear), Jack Osbourne (son of Ozzy), Montel Williams, Richard Pryor, David Lander (Squiggy on Laverne and Shirley), and Annette Funicello. Anybody can be impacted by Multiple Sclerosis and there are many levels of MS Warriors. MS impacts not only the individual with the diagnosis, but their families and ultimately, entire communities.

“At first, I thought that multiple sclerosis had taken everything away. Now, almost 20 years later, I see it has given me just as much as it has taken,” Gonzalez says. “Multiple sclerosis has shown me just how strong and powerful I can be by giving me the situations and opportunities to be nothing less than strong and powerful.”

Gonzalez has faced a life of ups and downs with his physical and mental health, lapses in insurance and, in turn, treatment. His symptoms have caused him to rethink his whole career path and how he performs for audiences.

“There are still days I mourn the life that I thought

I deserved to have,” he says. “It has taken and continues to take a lot of work to appreciate the gift I’ve been given. I realize that I’m entitled to nothing.”

Still, he has continued to perform with organizations like The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Philly POPS. He also originated The Justin Gonzalez Trio, a band of classically trained musicians who riot out on the ukulele, violin, and trombone. You can often find him in a solo concert or cabaret or teaching master classes in schools and colleges, sharing the power of storytelling through music.

“I’m grateful that I still can share the gifts I’ve been given. I still sing classically with choruses and orchestras throughout the region and beyond. I celebrate the Broadway and American songbooks with my jazz trio. I get to be the Rockstar I never thought I would be with 33 1/3 LIVE’s Killer Queen Experience. Since the pandemic, I’ve been sharing my experiences and stories by doing stand-up comedy. And, of course, I continue to work in music, ministry, leading congregations, and a number of different churches and denominations.”

Justin Gonzalez has had a decades-long career bringing joy to the hearts of all who have witnessed his performances. His ranges from opera singing, to crooning classic Broadway hits, to belting out pop songs better than a jukebox. With a huge range of talents, even an intrusive diagnosis like MS can’t keep him down.

According to the NMSS website, Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive and unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Some of the common symptoms of MS are fatigue, gait difficulties, spasticity, vision problems, bladder problems, bowel problems, pain and itching, depression, dysesthesia (the MS Hug), numbness or tingling, weakness, vertigo and dizziness, sexual problems, cognitive changes, and emotional changes. Most people experience one or more of these symptoms on a daily basis, so don’t get scared if you do, too. But if you experience multiple symptoms for an extended period, you should get checked out by your doctor. PRH