Patrick Henry Hughes
Encyclopedia
Patrick Henry Hughes is an American
multi-instrumental musician from Louisville, Kentucky
who was born without eyes and unable to fully straighten his arms and legs, making him unable to walk.
with pterygium syndrome and congenital bilateral hip dysplasia
.
His father, Patrick John Hughes, introduced him to the piano at the age of nine months. Patrick has studied piano in the years since and later began the study of trumpet. He has two younger brothers, Jesse and Cameron.
Patrick Henry's national fame began in 2006 while a student at the University of Louisville
. At the suggestion of Louisville's marching band director, Dr. Greg Byrne, Patrick Henry joined the Louisville Marching Band, playing trumpet while his father pushed him in his wheelchair through the marching routines. This visible commitment attracted increasing crowd and media attention throughout the fall football season, and the pair of Patricks were featured in a variety of television and newspaper coverage. Patrick Henry was subsequently invited to play piano and sing in musical performances throughout the country, including two performances at the Grand Ole Opry
, and onstage performances with Pam Tillis
, Lonestar
, Lane Brody
, Chad Brock
, Faith Hill
, and Bryan White
. Also in 2007 he played solo trumpet on stage in performance with the Louisville Orchestra
.
Hughes graduated from Atherton High School
, where he participated in the International Baccalaureate program and was a member of National Honor Society
. He has graduated from the University of Louisville
, magna cum laude where he majored in Spanish
and played trumpet in the marching band.
In November 2007, the members of the Hughes family were chosen to be the recipients of a complete home renovation for the show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
. The episode aired on February 15, 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
multi-instrumental musician from Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
who was born without eyes and unable to fully straighten his arms and legs, making him unable to walk.
Biography
Patrick Henry Hughes was born March 10, 1988 to Patrick John and Patricia Hughes. Upon his delivery, the medical staff noticed physical anomalies. These were diagnosed as bilateral anophthalmiaAnophthalmia
Anophthalmia, also known as anophthalmos , is the congenital absence of one or both eyes.-Prevalence:...
with pterygium syndrome and congenital bilateral hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia (human)
Hip dysplasia, developmental dysplasia of the hip or congenital dysplasia of the hip is a congenital or acquired deformation or misalignment of the hip joint.-Terminology:...
.
His father, Patrick John Hughes, introduced him to the piano at the age of nine months. Patrick has studied piano in the years since and later began the study of trumpet. He has two younger brothers, Jesse and Cameron.
Patrick Henry's national fame began in 2006 while a student at the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
. At the suggestion of Louisville's marching band director, Dr. Greg Byrne, Patrick Henry joined the Louisville Marching Band, playing trumpet while his father pushed him in his wheelchair through the marching routines. This visible commitment attracted increasing crowd and media attention throughout the fall football season, and the pair of Patricks were featured in a variety of television and newspaper coverage. Patrick Henry was subsequently invited to play piano and sing in musical performances throughout the country, including two performances at the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
, and onstage performances with Pam Tillis
Pam Tillis
Pamela Yvonne "Pam" Tillis is an American country music singer-songwriter and actress. She is the daughter of country music singer Mel Tillis....
, Lonestar
Lonestar
Lonestar is an American country music group consisting of Richie McDonald , Michael Britt , Keech Rainwater , Dean Sams , and Michael Hill . McDonald left the band in November 2007 for a solo career before returning in 2011...
, Lane Brody
Lane Brody
Lane Brody is an American female singer-songwriter, active since the early 1980s, best known for her 1984 Billboard-topping country hit, "The Yellow Rose" , and for the Oscar nominated song "Over You" from the film "Tender Mercies". She is the first female in country music to have an...
, Chad Brock
Chad Brock
Chad Brock is an American country music artist and disc jockey. Before beginning his musical career in the late 1990s, he was a professional wrestler in World Championship Wrestling , until an injury forced him to retire....
, Faith Hill
Faith Hill
Faith Hill is an American country singer. She is known both for her commercial success and her marriage to fellow country star Tim McGraw. Hill has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and accumulated eight number-one singles and three number-one albums on the U.S...
, and Bryan White
Bryan White
Bryan White is an American country music artist. Signed to Asylum Records in 1994 at age 20, White released his self-titled debut album that year. Both it and its follow-up, 1996's Between Now and Forever, were certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, and 1997's The...
. Also in 2007 he played solo trumpet on stage in performance with the Louisville Orchestra
Louisville Orchestra
The Louisville Orchestra is the primary orchestra in Louisville, Kentucky and has been called the cornerstone of the Louisville arts scene. It was founded in 1937 by Robert Whitney and Charles Farnsley, Mayor of Louisville...
.
Hughes graduated from Atherton High School
Atherton High School
Atherton High School is a public school in the Highlands district of Louisville, Kentucky and is part of the Jefferson County Public School district. It opened in 1923 as J.M. Atherton High School for Girls...
, where he participated in the International Baccalaureate program and was a member of National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
. He has graduated from the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
, magna cum laude where he majored in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and played trumpet in the marching band.
In November 2007, the members of the Hughes family were chosen to be the recipients of a complete home renovation for the show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a reality television series providing home renovations for less fortunate families and community schools etc...
. The episode aired on February 15, 2008.
Published works
- I Am Potential: Eight Lessons on Living, Loving, and Reaching Your Dreams with Bryant Stamford (ISBN 0738212989; Da Capo Lifelong BooksDa Capo PressDa Capo Press, is an American publishing company with headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1964 as a publisher of music books, as a division of Plenum Publishers. it had additional offices in offices in New York City, Philadelphia and Emeryville, California...
, 2008)
Awards
- 2001: Olympic torchbearer, December 17, 2001
- 2001-2005: VSA arts of Kentucky Young Soloist Award
- 2003, 2006: Breaking Barriers Spotlight Award
- 2005: VSA artsVSA artsVSA is an international organization on arts and disability which was founded in 1974 by former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith...
Panasonic Young Soloist International winner - 2006: Disney Wide World of Sports Spirit Award