AZ singer and songwriter does not let cerebral palsy define him

MESA, Ariz. - He has been described as a "musician who shouldn't be a musician."

Gene Moran is a talented singer and songwriter based in Mesa. He was born with cerebral palsy, and he's not letting the disability define him.

"I write songs that people can relate to," Moran said.

We caught up with him at The Roadrunner Lounge in Scottsdale. He is so talented, but it has taken him a roundabout way to get to this point.

AZ musician not letting disability define him

He has been described as a "musician who shouldn't be a musician," but a Mesa man is not letting his disability define him. FOX 10's Ellen McNamara reports.

"I always wanted to be in a band like my uncle, friends, high school and everything, but like I thought I'd look like a freak show on stage in a wheelchair," Moran said.

Moran has wanted to perform in public since he was about 15 years old, but he was worried about what people would think. However, a respected songwriter in Tucson encouraged him to get on stage.

"He told me that I was stupid for thinking I’d look stupid, so I took his advice and played, and it was really well received," Moran said.

While it may be decades later, Moran is finally sharing his love of music with anyone who will listen.

"I play guitar in a really unorthodox way, Moran said. "Because I have cerebral palsy, it affects your fine motor skills right, and your gross motor skills. So, I shouldn't even be able to play guitar. But I figured out a way to mute strings and push down on strings to get chords."