Everyone has his or her vices. Some of us smoke, some drink, some use other avenues to relieve the stress brought upon us by daily life. Understanding the elevation of our personal stress helps to understand our chosen outlet for relief.
However, the average layman’s business-office blues pale in comparison to the difficulties faced by those with disabilities. The perils, stresses, and thoughts, of the disabled are still relatively foreign landscapes, without maps. A 13 year-old boy, named Rex Lewis-Clack, was born with an array of disabilities ranging from blindness to autism.
At birth, doctors believed Rex would not be able to walk or talk. Yet, Rex is a unique case, a child with a combination of disabilities and musical genius. He has a rare gift, a musical ear unlike any other, the ability to hear a song and recite it on the piano, note for note, using music as his outlet.
His mother Cathleen says, ‘Rex is a beautiful, joyful child who has a unique ability to live in the moment the rest of us could learn from. He faces his daily challenges with a refusal to give up and basks in the joy of his musical gift. He lives beyond any label anyone could try to attach to him (blind, autistic, musical genius) because he’s just Rex, and Rex lives any label as a celebration of uniqueness.’
It was evident early in his life that he had a gift. According to Cathleen, at the tender age of three, this incredible boy began to recite Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’ after only listening to it once. Rex’s infatuation with the piano turned to love, his distinctive talent quickly bringing along notice and recognition.
‘At four he began playing Beatles. And he began lessons at five and a half after a gentleman played a ‘Bach Aria’ one time and he played it back. At seven he was labeled a prodigious musical savant and was filmed by ‘60 Minutes’ for his first profile,’ Cathleen said.
Musically light-years ahead of even peers without disabilities, his talents only continued to develop. Since, Rex has appeared on the CBS News Magazine’s 60 Minutes program repeatedly, traveled the globe showcasing his talents, playing for a crowd of 3,000 on his first international trip to Japan. He’s had the opportunity to meet fellow musical savant, Derek Paravicini, in London, while filming ‘The Musical Genius,’ a documentary for the British television channel, Discovery Health. Additionally, he received the German ‘Winspiration Award’ for taking the hand life’s dealt and winning. Furthermore, Cathleen has written a book, titled ‘Rex,’ on her talented, inspiring son.
‘I feel compelled to share the miracle of Rex, and through the sharing, hopefully provide hope to others wherever they may find themselves in life. Regarding autism, I would like to use Rex’s inspiration to give hope to others facing the unique and monumental challenges implicit in the condition and to raise awareness of the intensity of the challenges faced by these children and their families,’ Cathleen said.
Music has made the struggles of daily life for Rex a little more bearable. With his autism comes high sensitivity to any touch or sound. However, as he plays more, and grows older, his movements are becoming less spastic. Music gives him some control, slowly breaking down barriers placed by his disabilities.
‘It teaches disciplined and precise body movement. It is the only area where he really is the master of his body and mind. Musically, he’s had to learn to use all his fingers as he began his instruction at five using only three fingers on his right hand and two on his left hand. It has given him a passion, a connector to life, a joy center, and has built his self-esteem so that he has a beautiful self-image,’ Cathleen said.
Clearly Rex is a truly unique and talented young man, yet, when he isn’t traveling, performing, or appearing on television specials, he is much like any other 13 year-old. Cathleen states Rex attends Malibu Middle School, partaking in a special-education class part of the day, mainstreamed into regular classes, where he is the pianist in the schools Concert Band and two choir classes. He takes piano lessons with the head of instrumental music at Pepperdine University and at the Academy of Music for the blind, as well as voice lessons. A typical day for Rex involves class, piano practice, and some time for play, like bike riding or walking.
Cathleen hopes others see ‘that limits can be overcome, that no child should be pigeonholed by a label, and especially one with a disability as varied as autism. Never judge a book by its cover or a boy by his white cane and autistic body movements and speech.’
She has devoted her adult life to her son, his message, and his heartwarming story; she is as a much a part of it as he is, and she is grateful for it all.
‘I live each day with a heart of joy because I have a beautiful child who is blossoming more and more, teaching us all to never say never where he is concerned,’ a proud Cathleen said.
Be sure to catch Rex Lewis-Clack, and his mother Cathleen, as he brings his inspirational talents to Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in Incline Village, Nevada, Sunday, October 12, at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale between $35 to $60, and are available through cciv.org/rex or call 775-831-7989. A casual reception at the Lakeside Ballroom will follow the performance, giving attendees and opportunity to meet Rex and Cathleen, tickets are $100 per person. A follow-up story by CBS News Magazine’s ’60 Minutes’ will air in November.
Cathleen and Rex support:
• Blind Children’s Center Los Angeles, 4120 Marathon Street, Los Angeles, CA 90029, 323-664-2153
• Shane’s Inspiration, 15213 Burbank Boulevard Van Nuys, CA 91411, 888-61SHANE or 888-617-4263
• LiliClaire Foundation, 2800 28th Street, Suite 160, Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310-396-4355 or 888-999-LILI (5454).
