Musician who performed for pope to be at Sacred Heart Saturday

An internationally known musician who once performed for Pope John Paul II will hold a special performance Saturday in Poplar Bluff.

Tony Meléndez will be in concert at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Sacred Heart Catholic School gymnasium, 111 N Eighth St.

Meléndez, who has no arms, played his guitar with his feet and sang in a special performance for the pope in 1987.

The school is excited to host Meléndez, said Jan Leible, Sacred Heart Catholic School secretary.

Leible explained, the community will have the opportunity to hear Meléndez because “our priest Father Daniel Robles is a very charismatic beggar in a really nice way. He pleaded and pleaded and pleaded until the man said ‘yes’ he would.”

“This is a great opportunity for people to hear him,” Leible said. “He’s played worldwide; someone who played for the pope, what an opportunity? We are excited about it here at Sacred Heart.”

Meléndez was born Jan. 9, 1962, in Nicaragua, without arms. His mother took thalidomide while pregnant, which caused this. Meléndez has learned to play the guitar with his feet. He is also a composer, singer and songwriter.

Although Meléndez was fitted with artificial arms, he chose to use his feet as hands.

“I was a normal kid; people would look at me and say, ‘Oh, he doesn’t have arms’ but eventually I was driving, and my feet were so agile that I was able to write and go to school with my toes,” Meléndez said. “I felt very normal in a world that is a very ‘hand-world.’ I just had to maneuver a little bit.”

Meléndez sang “Never Be the Same” for Pope John Paul II. Reports from the event said the pope was visibly moved, the pope descended from his chair and embraced Meléndez.

The pope told Meléndez, “My wish to you is to continue of giving this hope to all, all the people,” which inspired Meléndez.

Meléndez said, “Pope John Paul II, what a blessing he was to my life. The archdiocese wrote me and asked me to bring in my guitar. It was a typical audition, ‘Don’t call us; we’ll call you,’ and three weeks later I was in front of the pope.”

Meléndez said, he loved the guitar since his father played for him as a child and allowed him the chance to “get his feet all over it.”

His band, Tony Meléndez and the Toe Jam Band, has a busy concert schedule. Meléndez, who resides in Branson, Missouri, with his wife, also gives motivational talks.

Meléndez has become a world-renowned musician and composer with many accolades to show.

In 2000, 2002 and 2004, he won “Male Vocalist of the Year” from The Unity Awards, and also was awarded the “Inspirational Hero Award” from the NFL Alumni Association at the Super Bowl XXIII.

President Ronald Reagan commended Meléndez on being a “positive role model for America.”

Individual tickets for the local event are $5 and family tickets are $25. They may be purchased at the school from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. or are the parish office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Leible said, if the concert doesn’t sell out in advance, tickets will be available at the door.