"Beneath the roar of Manhattan's subways, one musician turns a crowded platform into his stage. Kayhan Leftie Baratali, a one-armed bassist from Rockland County, fills the NYC subway tunnels with deep, rolling rhythms that reflect both his skill and his journey overcoming adversity. Every performance represents not just artistic passion but remarkable dedication. For 16 years, Baratali has made the daily trek across the Hudson a three-hour round trip to play for passing New Yorkers."
"Born without his left arm, Baratali first discovered music through an unlikely source the video game Guitar Hero. That spark turned into a passion. Teaching himself to play bass with a customized technique, he developed a style that's as distinctive as his sound. Encouraged by his family's sacrifices, in college Baratali enrolled in engineering school. But during exam season, tragedy struck his mother passed away."
"Since then, Baratali has built his career on the city's streets and subway platforms, recently earning a coveted spot in the MTA's Music Under New York program which features licensed performers at some of the busiest stations in the system. Each day, thousands of riders briskly walk past his performances. Some stop for a song or two, others for longer."
Kayhan Leftie Baratali, born without his left arm, plays bass on New York City subway platforms using a customized, self-taught technique. He discovered music through the video game Guitar Hero and turned that spark into a career after leaving engineering school following his mother’s death. For 16 years he has commuted a three-hour round trip from Rockland County to perform for passing riders. Baratali earned a spot in the MTA’s Music Under New York program and draws thousands of daily passersby. His performances emphasize persistence, adaptive musicianship, and the idea that limitations do not define possibility.
Read at www.amny.com
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