Melody Gardot, born February 2, 1985 in New Jersey, is an American jazz singer and singer / songwriter. Gardot was at age 19 hit by a car as she rode her bike and received injuries to the head and severe fractures of the hips. During the long hospital stay, she embraced music therapy and came to write a long list of songs. The debut album "Worrisome Heart" was released in 2006 on an independent labels and re-released in 2008 on Verve Records. Gardot is walking with a cane, and on stage she uses a specially designed chair. Gardot is as a result of the accident very sensitive to light, and bears often dark glasses. Gardots second abum, "My One and Only Thrill," was released on 28 april 2009 and includes her own rendition of "Over the Rainbow" by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Two singles have so far been released from the album, "Who Will Comfort Me" and "Baby I'm a Fool". An EP, "Bye Bye Blackbird" was released in 2010 and at the end of May 2012 Melody Gardot released her third album, "The Absence".