3" Fisherman's Reel

Before the accident, Derek Amato had seen his share of bad luck. In 2002 he’d lost everything in a business investment. “I was homeless a while,” he says. “I slept in my car at rest stops for three months while I looked for work.” He got back on his feet after finding a job with the post office. Then in 2006, he was partying with friends when he dived into the shallow end of a swimming pool and hit his head – hard. Since then Derek has been dealing with headaches, hearing loss and memory issues. He’s also discovered a sudden aptitude for music. Without a single lesson, Derek now plays eight instruments. He can’t read a note. He can’t play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” But his improvised melodies have a beauty and fluidity that defy explanation. “I’m convinced it’s all for a reason,” Derek says about his gift. “I’d like it to stay.”