What comes to mind when you hear the word “Piano Man”? Billy Joel, you say. Well, be prepared to change your mind. Yes, it’s time to hang up, Billy. Let’s move on, Stevie. Go away, Elton, there’s a new ivory tickler in town, and his name is Donald Gould.
A video posted by Mashable in 2015 shows a long-haired man sitting at a piano on the street in Florida. He began singing a moving cover of the progressive rock power ballad “Come Sail Away,” much to the surprise of passersby. One member of the audience in particular exclaimed, “Do you know how hard it is to play?!” » – I was fascinated by the know-how on display.
So who is this mysterious keychain?
His name is Donald Gould, also known as “The Homeless Pianist.” Gould, a Michigan native and already an accomplished musician, studied music theory at Arbor College. However, in 1998, tragedy struck and he lost his wife and later custody of his son. This led him down a dark path of drug addiction and eventually a life on the streets. The aforementioned clip, which currently has 45 million views, was a turning point, going viral as soon as it was posted online and opening up a world of possibilities for the ex-Marine musician.
Second chance
Thanks to the attention he received, a GoFundMe campaign was established in his name that raised $400,000. This gave Gould the opportunity to undergo rehabilitation and get the second chance he needed. Watch her impressive transformation in the video below. After this fateful chain of events, Gould achieved remarkable success.
One of those highlights was his performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in front of a packed stadium at the San Francisco 49ers’ season opener. Reflecting on this feat, he told ABC 7: I have 80,000 people. I suddenly got a job.
Although Donald still faces the challenges of living on the streets, his life is filled with positivity. He released the album Walk on Water in 2017, introducing his unique talent to audiences around the world. “Walk on Water” is available now on Triple Pop Records.
Witness Donald Gould’s amazing musical journey in the video below.
