One-Handed Guitarist Tony Memmel and His Band Bring SING FOR LOVE Concerts to Taipei, Tainan, and Kaohsiung as part of the American Music Abroad Program December 1-3, 2017
The American Institute in Taiwan is honored to present the legendary one-handed guitarist Tony Memmel and His Band in Taipei, Tainan and Kaohsiung from December 1-3, 2017. Tony Memmel and His Band’s visit to Taiwan is part of the 2017 American Music Abroad program, which is co-produced by American Voices, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the American Institute in Taiwan.
In partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs of Taipei City Government, Chimei Museum, the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, National Taiwan University Hospital, and the Taipei Artist Village, Tony Memmel and band members Lesleigh Memmel (piano) and Joey Wengerd (guitar) will present three public concerts and a charity recital at a local hospital while in Taiwan. Taiwan’s acclaimed blind pianist Mr. Hsu Che-Cheng will join Tony on stage for an evening concert at Taipei Da-an Forest Park on December 1.
Although Tony Memmel was born without a left forearm and hand, he taught himself to play the guitar by building a homemade cast out of duct tape that secures a guitar pick to his arm, and allows him to pluck and strum the strings. Today, Tony is an award-winning singer-songwriter. His songs have inspired people around the world with their strong messages of perseverance, hope, discovery, and love.
The public performance schedule for the American Music Abroad Taiwan 2017 Tour is as follows:
Taipei
Noon Recital
Date: Friday, December 1 at 12:00 p.m. – 13:00 p.m.
Venue: East Side Lobby, National Taiwan University Hospital
(No.7, Zhong-shan S. Rd., Zhong-zheng Dist. Taipei City)
Tickets: Free admission, no tickets required
Evening Concert
*Performance joined by Taiwan Blind Pianist Hsu Che-Cheng
Date: Friday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Venue: Auditorium, Da-an Forest Park, Taipei
(No.1, Sec.2, Xin-sheng S. Rd., Taipei City)
Tickets: Free admission, no tickets required
Tainan
Afternoon Concert
*Performance joined by Taiwan Violinist Chung Dai-Ting
Date: Saturday, December 2 at 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Venue: Lobby, Chimei Musuem
No. 66, Sec. 2, Wenhua Rd., Ren-de Dist., Tainan City
Tickets: Free admission, no tickets required
Kaohsiung
Afternoon Concert
*Performance joined by Taiwan saxophonist Sam Su
Date: Sunday, December 3, 3:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Venue: Lobby, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts
Address: 80 Meishuguan Road, Kaohsiung City
Tickets: Free admission, no tickets required
AIT will post information about the 2017 American Music Abroad Taiwan program on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AIT.Social.Media
American Music Abroad is a people-to-people cultural exchange program designed to communicate America’s rich musical contributions and diverse culture to the global music scene. In 2017, Tony Memmel and His Band were selected to participate in the State Department’s “American Music Abroad” program touring to Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and Taiwan as cultural ambassadors.
For more information about the artists and this program, please visit:
- Tony Memmel official website http://tonymemmel.com/wp/
- Tony Memmel Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/tonymemmel/
- American Music Abroad Website: http://amvoices.org/ama/ensembles-2015/tony-memmel-and-his-band/
Top 10 Things to Know about Tony Memmel
- Though he was born without a left forearm and hand, Tony Memmel taught himself to play the guitar by building a homemade cast out of Gorilla Tape (duct tape) that secures a guitar pick to his arm, and allows him to pluck and strum the strings.
- American Music Abroad Program Alumnus– He was selected to tour to Brazil, Panama, Paraguay, and Uruguay in cooperation with the U.S. State Department, Embassies, and Consulates overseas in 2016. The tour included visits to schools, orphanages, hospitals, and performances in historic concert venues with an aim to build cultural bridges through music.
- National finalist (4th place finisher) in the “You Oughta Know – Make a Band Famous Competition” hosted by VH1 and Republic Records.
- Invited to speak to a crowd of 35,000 people during the ELCA Lutheran National Youth Gathering at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA.
- Songwriter Awards – Nashville Songwriters Association Top 40, and WAMI Singer-Songwriter of the Year. (Fellow WAMI winners: Bon Iver, Les Paul, and Cory Chisel).
- Ambassador with the non-profit organization “Lucky Fin Project” a support group for children with hand and limb-differences. He also teaches adaptive guitar lessons to students with physical differences, and helps them to develop unique, custom methods and devices that allow them to play.
- The press has taken notice as he’s earned write-ups and features in the Associated Press, CNN, Boston Globe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Chicago Tribune, and WSMV Nashville.
- Extensive independent touring experience has taken him to 45 states in the U.S., and 10 countries worldwide. He has released 4 full-length albums, and 2 EP’s. The most recent release, “We’ll Be On The Radio” was recorded at the world-renowned House of Blues Studios in Nashville, TN, and Blast House Studios in Madison, WI.
- Earned a Bachelor’s Degree in music, and trained as a classical vocalist.
- Commissioned to compose symphonic and choral orchestrations of his music. His work “Opus 1 – Five Songs for Symphony, Chorus, and Rock ‘n Roll Ensemble,” debuted in 2014. He’s worked as an Artist in Residence with the Madison Youth Choirs, and has orchestrated a new work (debuting in 2017) for the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
Lesleigh Memmel, Pianist/Vocalist
Lesleigh grew up sitting on a piano bench next to her grandpa Russ. Together, they filled the house with old folk songs. He played without a page of sheet music in front of him and passed his knowledge of music on to Lesleigh in the oldest musical tradition – aurally. Lesleigh has never taken a formal lesson, yet her piano playing has been compared to Ben Folds and Billy Joel.
Joey Wengerd, Guitarist
At the age of 3, when he started singing along to Bruce Springsteen over his parents’ radio, Joey Wengerd knew that music was his calling. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Joey picked up his first six-string at the age of 9 and began writing songs soon after, setting in motion a life-long passion for creating music and a career of bringing joy to many.
Joey moved to Nashville in 2006 to attend Belmont University, studying Commercial Guitar and Music Business. He quickly immersed himself in the local scene, and has since been working in every facet of the music industry. From performing as a guitarist for audiences of thousands while opening for artists like Hunter Hayes and Josh Turner, to working as a songwriter and music business & marketing consultant in Nashville, Joey loves sharing his music and doesn’t take for granted the awesome journey that began by singing along to the radio.
Videos of Tony Memmel performing:
- Tony Memmel – “Lucky Fin Song” – official music video
- The National – “I Need My Girl” (cover) by Tony Memmel
- Tony Memmel – “Clenched Hands Brave Demands” – official music video
- The Tony Memmel Show – Episode 1: The Strat
- Tony Memmel and the Madison Youth Choirs – “Overture/Here We Go“
Tony Memmel’s songs from the below links can be downloaded and played by media in Taiwan:
- Song 1 – Well Be On The Radio
- Song 2 – The Good Land
- Song 3 – Lucky Fin Song
