What: Tony Memmel
Where: Be Here Now
When: March 15 at 10:00 p.m.
More details about Memmel and his music can be found on his website.
Tony Memmel, a Nashville singer-songwriter, will be performing at Be Here Now March 15. This is his first of three stops in Indiana on his latest tour, which kicked off Feb. 26.
Memmel is a unique performer in that he was born without a left forearm and hand, what is called symbrachydactyly. Despite this, he began learning how to play the guitar when he was 13, after having a lifelong interest in music.
“I had a friend from school who could hear a song off the radio, and by the time it was over, he could play it,” Memmel said. “I wanted to do that. I got deeper and deeper into music, and now I’m making a career out of it.”
Before playing, Memmel makes a duct tape cast on his left arm, which fastens a guitar pick to his arm. When he first started playing, he used any materials he could find, Memmel said.
“I was playing for almost eight years before I found Gorilla tape,” he said. “It used to come off all the time in the summer, under hot stage lights. But the Gorilla tape is quite reliable.”
Originally from Wisconsin, Memmel has a bachelor’s degree in music and music business from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. This has led to opportunities in Memmel’s other field of interest: composing.
He was commissioned to compose his songs for a full symphony orchestra and chorus. According to his website, his work was performed at the Weill Center for the Performing Arts in March 2014.
“I had to write parts for everything,” Memmel said. “It was a neat experience.”
Memmel also does work as a speaker and clinician, primarily with kids. He has done work with the Lucky Fin Project, a non-profit organization which spreads awareness about symbrachydactyly. Memmel speaks at schools about overcoming adversity.
“I use my journey playing the guitar [to make the point],” Memmel said. “No matter what each student is going through, if they work hard, they can come out on the other side even stronger.”
MiLea Maddox, a freshman elementary education major, said Memmel’s story is incredible. She would probably go see him perform, she said.
“It’s really inspirational,” Maddox said. “He overcame his disability to do something he is passionate about.”
This is Memmel’s 13th national tour, promoting his fifth album, “We’ll Be On the Radio.” It is his first full-length album since 2010. Memmel said he is looking forward to playing at Be Here Now and connecting with the Muncie community.
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