Tony Melendez, Born Without Arms, Plays Guitar With Feet And Inspires Students (VIDEO)

Tony Melendez, an armless man whose guitar performance has spanned the globe, struck an inspiring chord with Florida students when he shared his musical talent.

Melendez, who was born without arms and with a club foot, recently visited John Carroll High School and played the guitar with his feet, WPTV reports.

"I turn pages in a book, I can string a guitar, I could tune it, what a hand could do, this foot could simulate," said Melendez, who ditched his artificial limbs at a young age.

Melendez, who lives in Branson, Mo., embraced his disabilities at a young age and learned to play the acoustic instrument with his feet. He shared a message of self acceptance and perseverance with the Florida teens.

John Carroll senior Ryan Caddell said he was inspired that Melendez could:

"Turn it into something positive like that. It sends a really good message out to everyone who is watching."

Melendez plays more than 150 concerts a year and has performed for Popes on five occasions, according to the news network.

Watch Tony perform at the Billboard Latin Music Awards.

WATCH Related Video:

Comments

[FTracy3]

06:01 PM on 10/12/2011

"I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no socks.""

Or something like that. Anyway very inspirational--am always impressed by people who have more than overcome the hand they've been dealt and make the rest of us sometimes feel we're sometimes wasting what we do have.

[papapj]

10:47 AM on 10/11/2011

Inspirational...like brother Jose;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUkIkRmUr0Y

Blind, but you'd never know it listening to him play....

[mlaiuppa]

12:06 AM on 10/11/2011

I didn't hear a thing. Didn't hear if he could play or how well he could play.

[Alisa B Anderson]

08:30 PM on 10/10/2011

Mark Goffney has been playing and singing AND putting on a real show for 20 years with NO ARMS. http://www.myspace.com/bigtoerocks

[rabbitmoon7]

05:09 PM on 10/10/2011

Check out Scott Key in Pa on youtube . One partial hand and no feet plays guitar.

[sydneymoon]

04:38 PM on 10/10/2011

Here is clip with Melendez playing "Let IT Be":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnEXl_AwIq0

[Hlynn]

03:44 AM on 10/11/2011

Thank you for posting that. He is very talented. I like that the camera was kept on his feet to show how agile he is at moving his feet on both the strings and the frets. Inspiring indeed!

[MaybeMilo]

03:32 PM on 10/10/2011

What a cr@ppy report - couldn't hear him play at all.

[sieiantn]

04:00 PM on 10/10/2011

But just think what was shared with you here! You read about a man who has no arms and uses his feet in incredible ways! Wasn't that a great story to share!

[MaybeMilo]

04:18 PM on 10/10/2011

Great story indeed.

The video? Eh.

[Fattonecat]

03:28 PM on 10/10/2011

Awesome !!

[BannedFromCommenting]

02:52 PM on 10/10/2011

NOw be nice to HEAR him play, not a couple strums and the rest talking

[monilove42]

03:03 PM on 10/10/2011

I was thinking the same thing. I'm going to see if he has a video on YouTube.

[erie]

03:25 PM on 10/10/2011

That was the reason I opened the page. Fav'd