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Music transformed this young man with autism. Now he works to unlock talent in others.

2 min read

Good Stuff
Source: BrightVibes

Rex Lewis-Clack was born with blind and with autism, but his early discovery of piano changed his life. Now, he helps others who face the same challenges to unleash their own potential.

Young Rex astounded experts with his ability on the piano

Born blind, Rex Lewis-Clack was diagnosed with autism as a toddler, and then labeled a musical genius (piano) by the age of 7, when musicologists became astounded by Rex’s ability to play back complex piano pieces he had heard only once, and then transpose them into other keys or improvise off themes with little effort.

His charity Rex and Friends brings disabled musicians together to find their unique voice and gives them opportunities to perform. At seven years old, Rex was already performing around the world, but often felt isolated. Now in his 20s, his performance group has created exciting new friendships with other disabled musicians who also use music as a way to connect. Source: facebook/circa
Considered a prodigious musical savant, Rex ranks as one of less than 50 people throughout history to combine blindness, intellectual disability and prodigious musical ability.
In 2006, Rex was the winner of the “Winspiration Award” Considered a prodigious musical savant, Rex ranks as one of less than 50 people throughout history to combine blindness, intellectual disability and prodigious musical ability. Source: rexandfriends.org

Rex’s abilities have attracted media attention

At 7, his abilities (coupled with disability) came to the attention of CBS’s 60 Minutes, who made the unprecedented decision to follow his life and development. 60 Minutes aired Rex’s first profile in 2003 called "Musically Speaking," which was followed by two subsequent profiles, each titled "Rex," the first in 2005, and then a second in 2008 (winner of 2008 Edward R. Murrow Award as Best Feature in a Newsmagazine). Rex has been sharing his life and piano gift with select audiences around the world since the age of 7, inspiring YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) audiences with his unique life and gifted piano playing and helping raise funds and awareness for select causes such as autism, blindness or other disabilities. In 2006, he was the winner of the “Winspiration Award” in Germany for taking the hand he’s been dealt in life and using it to not only “win” but also for “inspiring” others to do the same.

Other media coverage includes a 2011 Science Channel profile on a documentary series called "Ingenious Minds" as one of eight segments, each featuring an exceptional life (another segment featured renowned autism expert Temple Grandin). Rex was also featured alongside British Savant Derek Paravicini in the highly acclaimed British Production (in conjunction with Discovery Health) called "The Musical Genius" for the series "Extraordinary People." The profile aired under the title "Musical Savants" on Discovery Health Channel in 2006.

Rex’s biography "Rex-A Mother, Her Autistic Child and the Music that Transformed their Lives," by Cathleen Lewis was published by Thomas Nelson in 2008 and subsequently translated into seven foreign languages.

In 2011 Rex was a scholarship recipient to attend two prestigious European piano academies, The International Piano Academy in Freiburg, Germany and The Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, where he studied alongside gifted piano students from around the world.

Sources: rexandfriends.org, circa.com

Make an Impact

Rex & Friends: Get Involved!

If you would like to become involved in any way with the Rex & Friends charity, they would be glad to hear from you. Maybe you would like them to perform at your event?