An 85-year-old man whose piano taking part in has been seen a whole lot of thousand of instances on TikTook has stated he’s “blown away” by the new-found consideration he’s obtained.
Alan Melinek, from Watford in north-west London, has accrued 25,000 followers on the video sharing social community, with individuals tuning in to listen to his renditions of classical, pop and jazz tunes.
Mr Melinek – who additionally goes by Piano Grandad – fell in love with the piano from an early age and met his spouse Pat in a jazz membership in Soho.
Alan Melinek taking part in the piano with his granddaughter Bella
After 46 years of marriage, Pat died with ovarian most cancers in 2006 – since then, Mr Melinek has been elevating cash for Cancer Research UK with month-to-month concert events, however was stopped in his tracks by the coronavirus pandemic.
It was the concept of his granddaughter, Bella, to start out exhibiting his piano abilities off on TikTook, the place his movies have been obtained greater than 1 / 4 of one million likes.
“Somehow I appear to have gone viral and to say I’m overwhelmed is an understatement certainly,” he stated.
“I don’t fairly know the way it has occurred or what we have now unleashed however I’m fully bemused!
Alan Melinek taking part in the piano Credit: Cancer Research UK
“I’m additionally blown away by individuals’s generosity in serving to elevate cash for such an vital trigger that’s so pricey to my coronary heart.”
Mr Melinek’s web site pianograndad.com directs individuals both to TikTook or YouTube to look at him play, whereas there may be additionally a hyperlink to his Cancer Research UK fundraising web page, the place he has already raised greater than £1,000.
“He’s bought this unbelievable expertise and I knew it could go down effectively,” stated Bella, 22, who was launched to TikTook by her youthful sister.
“I’m so happy with him.
“I’ve needed him to be well-known for his piano taking part in and am so comfortable to see tens of hundreds of individuals are actually having fun with it as a lot as we do.”
To discover out extra about Mr Melinek’s fundraising, click on right here.
