A one-handed Guitarist is an inspiration to children who are also missing limbs.
Work hard. Keep going.
A Nashville singer-songwriter delivered that message to students recently to kick off the city’s Music in our Schools month. The performer has an incredible story that’s especially inspiring for one 1st grader.
Dodson Elementary sang along as Tony Memmel strummed his guitar in the gym.
Tony appeared at the school through the sponsorship of the Music Mix Daily online blog. What he sang, The Lucky Fin Song, has a powerful meaning.
Tony said, “I was born without a left hand and taught myself how to play guitar in a special, unique way by building a special cast,”
Tony is able to grip a guitar pick with his elbow and create a cast to hold it in place with Gorilla tape. He calls his limb difference his ‘lucky fin.’
Six-year-old Willem Nelson noticed.
Willem has a limb difference with his hand too. Just like Tony, he loves music.
As part of the Lucky Fin Project non-profit, Tony travels the world to speak and encourage children with limb differences to follow what they love.
After seeing Tony play with his disability Willem noted, “I could play the drum. I could play the xylophone!”
Those revelations inspire Tony who said, “It puts fuel in my soul and helps me keep going and do what I do.”