- Ludwig van Beethoven: Beethoven lost his hearing in his late twenties and eventually became completely deaf. He continued composing music despite this disability.
- Robert Schumann: Schumann suffered from mental illness and attempted suicide several times. He was eventually admitted to a mental institution, where he died.
- Frédéric Chopin: Chopin was diagnosed with tuberculosis in his twenties. He died at the age of 39 from complications of the disease.
- Claude Debussy: Debussy was diagnosed with syphilis in the late 1890s. He continued to compose music until his death in 1918.
- George Gershwin: Gershwin suffered from a brain tumor and died at the age of 38 in 1937.
- Scott Joplin: Joplin had syphilis, which caused him to go blind and develop dementia. He died at the age of 49 in 1917.
- John Cage: Cage was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the 1950s. He continued to compose music until his death in 1992.
- Meredith Monk: Monk has a neurological disorder that affects her mobility and coordination. She continues to compose music and perform despite this disability.
- Stevie Wonder: Wonder is blind since childhood. He is a successful singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
- Ryan Adams: Adams has Ménière's disease, a condition that affects his hearing and balance. He continues to write and perform music despite this condition.