College Football Players Perform First Sign Language Concert Ever
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UPTOWN DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' hit song "Uptown Funk" is the definition of a smashing success. It spent 14 weeks in the number one spot on the U.S. Hot 100 Chart and has earned $2.7 million in publishing royalties.
But you've probably never seen it in sign-language.
Brian Guendling, a defensive end for the Texas State Bobcats, posted the video Monday July 6. By Tuesday night, it had more than 3,000 views.
In the description of the video, Guendling said the inspiration came from his dad's two brothers, who are blind and mentally handicapped. Guendling wrote that they are in their 50s, but only have the functionality of a young child. Due to the gene being in his DNA, Guendling said doctors prepared his parents during his mother's pregnancy for him to develop the same issues. He was a Special Education student until his senior year in high school and developed a love and friendship with many special needs students.
So much, he said, that he decided to take American Sign Language as his foreign language in high school.
Guendling said on his YouTube page that he still has a group of deaf friends that he often drives an hour to see. When he asks them to join in on an outing to a bar, he said they respond, "Why, when we cannot associate ourselves with the crowd and it would be awkward for us to just stand in the corner of the bar?"
That, combined with the realization that his deaf friends had never been to a concert, was the catalyst to find a way for his friends to enjoy the night life, too. Take a look!
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