By Sallie Bachar
Catholic Herald correspondent

Exceptional musician performs in Medford

MEDFORD -- The parishioners of Holy Rosary Church, Medford, were treated to a very special concert on Mother's Day, May 8. Leslie Lemke, an exceptional pianist and vocalist from Arpin, Wis., gave the performance. Lemke, who is 53 years old, has been playing piano for 38 years. He has given concerts all over the United States and in Norway and Japan and has appeared on such television programs as Oprah, 60 Minutes, Donohue, That's Incredible and the CBS Evening News.

What makes Lemke's talent so exceptional is that he is severely handicapped, both mentally and physically. He was born prematurely in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1952 and because of complications from his premature birth, he suffered extensive brain damage, cerebral palsy and multiple eye problems. As a result, his eyes were surgically removed when he was only a few months old.

His mother gave him up for adoption, and May Lemke, a nurse/governess from Milwaukee County, with five children of her own, took him into her home and dedicated her life to caring for him. She refused to believe the doctors' prognosis that Leslie would not live beyond 20 years. Instead, she prayed for a miracle every day and was convinced he would grow up to be a blessing to the world.

May spent countless hours teaching Leslie how to swallow and make verbal sounds in order to communicate and taught him to walk by strapping him to her body. She continually worked and massaged his palsied hands and arms until they straightened out, and when she played piano she would place his hands upon hers as they moved across the keyboard.

Lemke has the mental capacity of a two year old, and in addition to his other disabilities, has been diagnosed with Savant Syndrome, a condition in which an individual is severely handicapped but is also a genius at the same time in one certain area. It is a rare, unexplained disease that affects a very small percentage of the population. People with Savant Syndrome usually excel in music, art, intricate mathematical skills, calendar calculating and complex spatial skills such as map and route memorization. They have prodigious memories in these areas, over and above a normal individual, and in the case of musical skill, they play by ear and with perfect pitch.

Lemke's genius lies in music. His extraordinary talent came to light when he was 14 years old. His mother awoke one morning to the sound of Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1" coming from her living room. It was the theme song from a movie they had watched the previous evening, and Lemke was playing it flawlessly. He has only to hear a piece of music once in order to reproduce it himself on the keyboard or sing it.

At first Lemke's special gift was shared only with the local schools, churches and fairs. His popularity soon spread, however, and he traveled the world giving concerts. With his health now deteriorating, he has come back to central Wisconsin, performing once again in various churches and schools.

Since 1984 he has been in the care of his sister, Mary Parker, another woman, who like her mother May, is devoted to Lemke and the sharing of his special gifts. "Our mission," said Parker, "is to show the works of God manifested in Leslie and bring glory to God's name."

Parker pointed out that Lemke plays the piano with only nine fingers and that the palsy, which affects both his hands and feet, does not impair his ability to play. Although he cannot speak, he sings clearly and perfectly, impersonating the voices of famous performers such as Ray Charles, Jimmy Durante, and Louis Armstrong.

His performance covered a vast array of musical scores, beginning with Ave Maria and ending with Rhapsody in Blue. For over two hours he entertained the audience with patriotic songs, jazz, rhythm and blues, hymns, television theme songs and popular sing-alongs. He also played and sang a special composition that was a tribute to his mother, who died in 1993.

Parker doesn't know how much longer Lemke's health will allow him to give public performances. "He has outlived his life expectancy," she said. Consequently they will be starting a tape ministry soon, so that Lemke's extraordinary, God-given talent can continue to be shared with others.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2005