Melody Gardot

While biking around Philadelphia in November 2003, Melody Gardot was hit by a Jeep Cherokee that had run a red light. The traumatic collision caused serious head and spinal injuries as well as a shattered pelvis. This incident confined Gardot to a hospital bed for a year and caused her to re-learn simple tasks such as brushing her teeth and walking. But getting hit by a car also helped her connect with her creative side and make music. Through much perseverance, she released her debut album in 2005. The LP (consisting of jazz, blues and Latin tunes) went on to solidify Gardot's reputation as a musician who has overcome adversity to create meaningful and original music.