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American singer-songwriter Tony Memmel, who was born with one hand and taught himself how to play the guitar using a special cast that he designed to pluck and strum the strings, is set to entertain and inspire music lovers across the kingdom at the Bahrain Summer Festival.
The 35-year-old father and motivational speaker will be joined by ‘His Band’, including his wife Lesleigh who sings, plays piano and percussions, Alex Nixon on percussions and Joey Wengerd on guitar, for two days of virtual fun-filled programming.
The appearance comes courtesy of US embassy in Bahrain, in collaboration with festival organisers, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities.
“We are super excited to be a part of this festival,” Tony told the GulfWeekly. “When I was touring in Saudi Arabia in 2019, we were told that we’d really enjoy Bahrain and we hope to visit it in person someday.
“To be a part of the festival is a great joy and honour. My message is to keep going and never give up because I believe we each have a purpose and we are designed with some ability that is unique to us.”
The performances, staged virtually at 5pm on July 7 and July 9, will feature discussions about American folk music and its history, instrumental demonstrations, concerts and inspirational messages about resilience and overcoming adversity.
“I was born with one hand and taught myself how to play the guitar by designing a cast using Gorilla tape,” said the Nashville-resident who is currently working with children with special needs at a summer camp just outside Houston, Texas.
“Learning to play the guitar was not easy. It was really hard and it took me almost eight years of trial-and-error to build my adaptive cast. I’ll be talking about overcoming adversity and the ‘capability over disability’ message to open the concert and then get into the music.
“We have a nine song concert where I will start with a few acoustic numbers and then the band will come in and join me.”
The programming has been recorded from all over the country as the band members are in three different states right now.
“We put it all together virtually so it’s been really cool to see it all come together,” added the 2013 Wisconsin Area Music Industry Singer-Songwriter of the Year.
“We are doing a number of selections from the American pop-rock-country songbook.”
They will be performing songs from the likes of Johnny Cash and Paul Simon on the first day, along with original songs by Tony such as his stirring I am never, never, never gonna give up and Baby which was written when he and his wife were expecting their son, Theodore, who is now aged two.
“I have written close to 200 songs and the songs that I will be playing in the concert will hopefully have everyone singing along,” he said.
“I like trying to get everybody involved and one of my favourite things in the whole world is a good singalong!”
The second day will start in similar fashion. It will include the history of American folk music and an instrumental demonstration of items that can be used from around the house to make music, such as spoons.
“Spoons are a traditional American folk instrument going back many generations,” explained Tony. “We also talk about the history of folk music and we will also give a few demonstrations of some of those significant songs. We call ourselves ‘cultural diplomats’ that travel around the world sharing different pieces of American history and culture.”
Tony has toured 47 of the 50 US states and 17 countries, including parts of South America, South East Asia and the Middle East, sharing his music and his message of hard work, determination, and resilience.
His work ranges from composing symphonies, to writing and arranging music for children, visiting schools and hospitals and helping people with hand/limb-differences (like his) to develop their own adaptive methods that allow them to make music a part of their lives.
“When I first started in music, my goals were to be able to write and play my own songs,” he said.
“I didn’t even know very many people growing up that were like me. I was the only person in my school and the only person I knew in my city where I grew up.
“When social media started to take off, that’s when I started to get messages from both children and parents of kids who either have similar physical differences or found encouragement in my story.
“It’s been the joy of my life to have these opportunities.”
Visit www.culture.gov.bh, for details.
