I’m making it up
Leslie Lemke is a blind American autistic savant who is most notable for his piano skills. He can play any musical piece he ever heard even once in a perfect manner.
Early Life
Lemke was born prematurely in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Because of this, he has developed problems with retinas in both his eyes. Those later developed into glaucoma and because of this Leslie’s eyes were removed in the first months of his life. In addition to losing sight, Lemke also suffered from cerebral palsy and brain damage. Due to this condition, he couldn’t stand until he was 12 and it took him an additional 3 years to learn how to walk.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Because of the various health conditions, his mother gave him up for adoption. He was later adopted by the nurse-governess May Lemke, who was told that the child would likely die. His stepmother had to place cereal on his tongue and stroke his throat so that he would swallow food. Leslie was able to chew food on his own only a year later.
In the following years, the boy displayed little to no emotion, was distant, and not willing to engage in conversations. Leslie did know how to repeat what was said to him in an exact tone. May built a four-and-a-half-foot strap system to help Leslie learn how to walk.
Discovery of his talent
Leslie’s savant syndrome became apparent when his foster parents bought him a piano at the age of 7. His foster mother placed her hands over his to help him learn how to play. A while later Leslie learned how to use such instruments as a chord organ, drums, and accordion. When he played the piano, Leslie’s handicap seemed not to affect him, despite the fact that he couldn’t hold eating utensils.
The real discovery happened when Leslie flawlessly performed Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto no. 1 which he had heard on television one night. His piano skills woke up both of his parents in the middle of the night. He was only 14 years old. Lemke soon learned how to play various musical pieces from classical compositions to ragtime tunes.
His unique brain meant that he could remember and play a musical piece of any length flawlessly after hearing it just once. He is considered to know many compositions by heart, but his most favorite have to be “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art”. With time Leslie became more musically accomplished and developed his verbal skills. Soon he could even play improvisation of songs he had heard as well as compose entirely new pieces on the spot.
Musical career
By 1980, Leslie was having regular converts in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He was invited to such TV shows as BC's Man Alive, the CBS Evening News, 60 Minutes, and That's Incredible! ABC broadcasted The Woman Who Willed a Miracle, a drama about Leslie’s life with his foster mother. The film that aired in 1983 starred Cloris Lachman as May Lemke. Fred Small's song, "Leslie is Different" has Leslie as its main subject.
During his life, Lemke gave concerts across the United States, Japan, and Scandinavia.
Top questions
Who is Leslie Lemke?
Leslie Lemke is a blind American savant, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1952, who is most notable for his piano skills. He can play any piece of music he has heard even once, and he was adopted by the nurse-governess May Lemke.
What can Leslie Lemke play on the piano?
Lemke can remember and play a musical piece of any length flawlessly after hearing it just once. He is considered to know many compositions by heart, from classical works to ragtime tunes, and his favourites are Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art. Later he could improvise on songs he had heard and compose new pieces on the spot.
How was Leslie Lemke's musical talent discovered?
His savant abilities became apparent when his foster parents bought him a piano at the age of seven, and his foster mother placed her hands over his to help him learn. The real discovery came at 14, when he flawlessly performed Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto no. 1, which he had heard on television one night, waking both of his parents.
Where has Leslie Lemke performed?
By 1980 Lemke was giving regular concerts in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He appeared on television shows including Man Alive, the CBS Evening News, 60 Minutes and That's Incredible, and gave concerts across the United States, Japan and Scandinavia.
Who was May Lemke?
May Lemke was the nurse-governess who adopted Leslie Lemke. Her hands over his helped him learn the piano when he was seven. ABC broadcast a drama about his life with his foster mother, The Woman Who Willed a Miracle, in 1983, and Fred Small wrote a song about him, Leslie Is Different.
