ABLE Voices Ep 94: Rion Paige

We are inviting artists with disabilities to be guest hosts for the Able Voices podcast. Today, our guest host is Tony Memmel.Tony Memmel is a singer, songwriter, speaker, and teacher with unique charisma and creativity. Though he was born with one hand, he taught himself to play the guitar professionally by building a special cast that he designed out of guerrilla tape. He has toured toured 47 of the 50 states, 25 countries, and has worked with 16 countries, virtually sharing his music and his message of hard work, determination, and resilience. His work ranges from visiting schools, hospitals, and churches, to writing and arranging music for children, composing symphonies, performing in historic concert venues, and helping people with hand and limb differences, like his, to develop their adaptive methods that allow them to make music part of their lives. Today, Tony will be speaking to Rion Page.Rion Paige Thompson is an American country singer from Jacksonville, Florida who finished in 5th place on season 3 of the X Factor USA. She was a part of the Girls catagory, mentored by Demi Lovato. Rion, who has a rare condition called arthrogryposis multiplex congenita which has caused permanent damage to her arms, resulting in her hands being in a fixed bent position.Follow Tony on Social Media:Website: https://www.tonymemmel.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonymemmel/Follow Rion Page on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohrionpaige/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohrionpaige/The ABLE Voices podcast is produced and edited by BIAAE Operations Coordinator, Daniel Martinez del Campo. The introduction music was written by Kai Levin and the ending song was written by Sebastian Batista. Kai and Sebastian are students in the Arts Education Programs at the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education.For more information about our programs visit us at https://college.berklee.edu/BIAAEFollow us for more weekly updates at:Instagram: @BIAAEFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAAE