Page 22 - Priorities #12 2000-April

Special Assembly Melendez’s
Music Is An Inspiration
guitar on the floor in front of his feet.
Tony’s brother, Jose, who now lives near and
travels with him, talked about the mixed feelings he had growing up with a brother who got extra attention at home and was socially unacceptable around his friends. Watching his brother, seeing the effort he exerted to accomplish feats from the everyday to the near-miraculous, taught him to appreciate Tony for the extraordinary person he was, he said. He echoed Tony’s hope that students, especially, be aware of what they can do.
Sometimes young people feel uncomfortable in church, Tony told the group. But he encouraged them to remember that, according to the Catholic faith, it was a teenager - a 13-year-old - who was trusted by God to become the mother of Jesus. That, he told them, says a lot about the confidence God has in youth.
Melendez is a strongly religious man who once wanted to be a Priest. He felt the calling following a high school retreat, but learned that without hands he did not meet the Church’s requirements for the office. Shortly after, however, he began to develop another type of ministry with his music and has pursued it ever since, he said. He asked to hold his concert in the Priory Chapel and to incorporate a prayer service.
“We’re not all Catholic here (in the Chapel), and
Tony Melendez, a well-known musician and role model for triumphing over adversity, brought his message of hope to Woodside Priory in a concert on Feb. 4 for the Woodside Priory School students and staff.
The hour of music ranged from a serene and melodic Hail Mary to a rousing “La Bamba” featuring the drums, guitars and voices of all four members of his band. His “mission” was to encourage his audience to respect their power, their individuality and their integrity.
“If I can do this with no hands,” he said, describing his life and music, “then think what you can do with ten fingers and a good education.
“The biggest handicap you face is yourself, when you say, ‘I can’t,” he told them.
A “thalidomide baby,” Tony was born without arms because his mother was prescribed this drug during pregnancy. He was brought to the Los Angeles area from Nicaragua to be fitted with artificial arms. He wore them until he was ten, when he disposed of them.
“I didn’t feel comfortable,” he explains, “I could use my feet so much more.”
His father encouraged him to play by setting the
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