Even if you weren’t already a fan of «Carpool Karaoke» from watching the Late Late Show, chances are you’ve at least seen this handsome fellow and his son singing their hearts out while taking a spin around the Sainsbury’s parking lot. They weren’t part of the official series, but something about this pair captured the hearts of viewers all over the world.
You see, 80-year-old Ted McDermott has Alzheimer’s. Sometimes he doesn’t recognize his own son. But Ted’s irrepressible love of singing is something that has stayed with him. All it takes is a few notes of introduction and he doesn’t miss a beat. Whether you’re hearing him for the first time or the thousandth, this old gent is sure to bring a smile to your face.
Quando Quando in Sainsbury's car park. ???Find out more: http://www.songaminuteman.com
Posted by The Songaminute Man on Samstag, 30. Juli 2016
When Ted was a young man, he’d been a regular crooner, but he gave up a promising career in music to be better able to provide for his family. However, singing remained a passion. When his son Simon realized how Ted sprang back to life when the old tunes came on, he decided to share his father’s infectious love of music with the world.
Since their first appearance on Facebook and YouTube in August last year, Simon has kept encouraging his dad’s singing, not only for Ted’s benefit and the enjoyment of his many new found fans, but also as a means of raising funds for Alzheimer’s research. The Decca record label invited Ted to record some of his favorite songs and the Guy Barker Orchestra was brought on board to accompany him. Simon organized a crowdfunding page to help the whole project come to fruition. Because Ted’s condition doesn’t always cooperate, completing the album has been a slow going, but they’ve already released two singles, «You Make Me Feel So Young» and «Quando Quando Quando» and are 77% of the way towards their funding goal.
The pair have already raised a stunning £130,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society.
It’s not every day that one comes across a story as special as this one. Hats off to Ted and Simon for sharing their love and their talents!
