"60 Minutes" to Feature Musician with Autism
Thursday, November 6, 2008
By: Carin Yavorcik

CBS show tells story of hope

CBS’s 60 Minutes will feature the story of Rex Lewis, a young musician with autism, on November 16.

Rex, 12, is also blind. His mother Cathleen began to notice when her son was young how Rex responded to music, notably classical music. When he listened to classical composers, there was a look on his face that seemed to say, “This I understand.” When Rex turned two, his father gave him a 48-key piano keyboard. At first, the sensation of touching the keys was unpleasant for Rex, but once he heard the notes the magic had been unleashed. 

Soon, Rex would play back melodies that, for most, would take months to learn. He had perfect pitch and a phenomenal memory. It was clear that Rex was a musical savant - one of maybe 20 in the world.

Today, Rex swims, bikes, skis, loves to travel and plays some of the most incredible music in the world. “To me,” says Lewis, “my son’s life, his story and his song are about hope. My son knows that it is a wonderful life! And through my faith and my love for a little boy, so do I.”

Cathleen chronicles their story in Rex: A Mother, Her Autistic Child, and the Music That Transformed Their Lives. The two will appear on 60 Minutes November 16; check your local listings for times.