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Armless guitarist inspires through music, message

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
(Email Renee)

When Tony Melendez played for Pope John Paul II in 1987 during a papal visit to Los Angeles, the pope was so moved by the armless guitarist’s performance that he made his way off the stage, embraced and kissed the musician. The late pope told him to continue his work and asked Tony to be a sign of hope to others.

The 500 people gathered at the Skate Palace in Ida Grove were also touched by Tony’s music and message during an Aug. 22 concert, which was moved to the new venue to accommodate the large crowd.

“I will never forget that I sang for the pope, John Paul II,” Tony said. “Truly it was a blessing and a moment that was life-changing.”

The audience was able to witness the emotion of the late pope in a video introduction featuring that scene.

Tony described himself as a guy who loves life – someone who likes to sing and share his gifts with others.

“All of a sudden Tony Melendez became hope to others,” he said about himself. “And God somehow said you are going to work.”

Throughout his nearly two-hour concert, Tony sang a mix of original songs, Christian cover tunes and even a secular song or two that had positive messages. Between the songs and sometimes within the songs, he told personal stories of faith and hope.

Tony, who was born in Nicaragua with no arms as a result of his mother taking the prescription drug Thalidomide during pregnancy, as a young boy moved with his family to Los Angeles. He said it was his father who had set a guitar on the floor in front of him. He learned to play the guitar with his feet.

“I am sad to say that my father is no longer with us but I have the memory and the legacy of the music that had been passed on,” said Tony, who lives with his wife and children in Branson, Mo. “I have to give it all back to our good Lord.”

Pastor performance
Not long into the program, Father David Hemann, pastor as the parishes in Ida Grove, Holstein and Odebolt, joined Tony and the Toe Jam Band on stage for two numbers. Father Hemann played the guitar and sang one of his songs, “Walk on Water.”

The priest reminded them how Peter had done the impossible, he had walked on water but then he took his eyes off of Jesus and he became afraid and began to sink.

“Jesus saves us even when we are not perfect in our faith,” Father Hemann said. “I want you to think about impossible situations in your own life as we sing this song – physical maladies and sicknesses, mental and emotional panics and depressions, spiritual problems, financial problems – whatever it might be. God is bigger than any problem.”

After “Walk on Water,” Father Hemann went to drums for the Christian cover tune “Trading My Sorrows.”

It was because of Father Hemann that Tony even came to the diocese. The diocesan priest met Tony in Arkansas a few years back at a Catholic Music Association event.

Tony extended thanks to Father Hemann and asked the congregation to pray for the priest. He then offered the song “Hail Mary” as a prayer for him.

During the show, Tony introduced the two members of the Toe Jam Band – Patrick Smith and Timothy Pope. Smith, who was on keyboards and guitar as well as background vocals, sang one of his songs.

“We sometimes forget that there is only one person who defines us and that is Christ Jesus,” said Smith, who was the liturgist for a parish in Dallas, Texas when he met Tony. “The words go like this,” he said as he broke into song, “We worship you Lord and we praise your name. We adore you with our lives.”

The words for his song had come to him as he prayed in adoration.

“All of us here in many ways are broken and in need of healing. Our lives are Christ’s and he didn’t ask for our holiness as much as he asked for our faithfulness,” said Smith, who had previously worked with the Doobie Brothers and Chicago.

Timothy, the drummer and keyboard bass player, was part of a band performing in Branson when he met Tony. After entertaining the crowd with a drum solo, he inspired them with “Amazing Grace.”

“These guys do not have to be traveling with an armless guitarist, but for the sake of ministry, for the sake of young people, hearts and for the love of God and music, they have gone on the road,” Tony said.

Brother’s support
His brother Jose, who is his tour manager and sound technician, also spoke to the crowd. He remembers telling his mother once that he wanted a brother who could throw a Frisbee and play football.

“My mother looked into my eyes and told me that God made Tony this way for a reason,” Jose said. His mother had told him to forget what the world said but love him and accept him the way he was.

Sure enough Tony overheard the conversation and was hurt but he had taken a Frisbee and placed it between his chin and shoulder, but that was Tony – always willing to try and eventually accomplishing.

“My brother, he isn’t disabled – it’s you and I,” said Jose. “We sit back and become complacent. We say we can’t and we won’t and give up. Tony teaches us that impossible things are possible.”

As the concert drew to a close, Tony reminded the people that “if a guy with no arms can be hope. I know that you can be hope today, too.”