Audio Joel ben Izzy tells the story of the lost horse Joel ben Izzy reads Euan Kerr's complete interview with Joel ben Izzy Photos Joel ben Izzy Resources Joel ben Izzy's website Your Voice Join the conversation with other MPR listeners in the News Forum.

	E-mail this page			Print this page

The storyteller who lost his voice
by Euan Kerr, Minnesota Public Radio
November 10, 2004

Professional storyteller Joel ben Izzy had to face some tough questions when he lost his voice. (Image courtesy of Algonquin Books)

St. Paul, Minn. — A few years back, Joel ben Izzy woke up after throat surgery to some good news, and some bad news. The good news: surgeons had successfully removed a cancerous growth. He was on the road to recovery.

The bad news? The nerve controlling his vocal chords was dead. He was told he'd lost his voice. Permanently.

The news would be bad enough for most people, but it was especially bad for Joel ben Izzy because he is a professional storyteller.

But, he DID get his voice back and he tells the story in his book "The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness." He told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr he thought at first that if he was forced to perform it might shock his system back into action.

News Headlines

Related Subjects