Mystery Piano Man

[Elissa]

The BBC reports that a man found wandring round Kent cannot speak but seems to play the piano so well that orchestras around Europe are being asked to help identify him.

The man, who has not said a word since being found in a soaking wet suit and tie on 7 April, stunned care workers by giving a virtuoso piano performance. Social worker Michael Camp said the man, in his 20s or 30s, is usually very anxious but "comes alive" at the piano. The man's talent came to light after staff at the Medway Maritime Hospital gave him a pen and paper in the hope he would write his name. nstead the patient, dubbed The Piano Man, drew very detailed pictures of a grand piano.

The man shocked staff with a performance of classical music after Mr Camp showed him the piano in the hospital's chapel. Mr Camp said: "When we took him to the chapel piano it really was amazing. He has not spoken since the day we picked him up. He does not make any sounds but I think I can communicate with him through tiny nods." The man has since written music, which has been verified as genuine manuscript. Mr Camp added: "It is extraordinary. The first time we took him down to the piano he played for several hours, non-stop."

[jazzbo]

Fascinating Elis, thanks for posting!

[DTMX]

Maybe it's that Shine guy. Shiny McShine, or whatever his name is.

[Bright Moments]

Maybe it's that Shine guy. Shiny McShine, or whatever his name is.

david helfgott

[Claude]

EXCLUSIVE: PIANO MAN SHAM

It was thought he was a musical genius who'd lost his mind, tried to kill himself and retreated into a world of silence.. but he's really a gay German who fooled docs and can barely play a note

(Daily Mirror)

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=1...-name_page.html

[Hardbopjazz]

Wow, it was all a sham.

[brownie]

He ended up being just another Richard Clayderman

[BERIGAN]

EXCLUSIVE: PIANO MAN SHAM

It was thought he was a musical genius who'd lost his mind, tried to kill himself and retreated into a world of silence.. but he's really a gay German who fooled docs and can barely play a note

(Daily Mirror)

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=1...-name_page.html

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It's strange how his being gay is considered important to the story....

[Claude]

A "gay german" sounds even better for a british tabloid. The other news sources, who took over the story from the Daily Mirror, mostly omitted the irrelevant fact that he is gay.

[tjobbe]

I think the relevant story behind is that he can hardly play any instrument but was considered a musical genius by the british media....and the others that picked up the stroy as well.

ok ok.. there are lot that make a fortune nowadays in the music business that do not have a clue what music is about, but hey... who would call Victoria "Posh" Beckham a genius

Cheers, Tjobbe

EDIT: there is a new story in a japanese Newspaper about a musical genius playing the Tenor Sax like Coltrane. They had a picture attached that looked like this. Does anyone recognizes this man:

Edited August 24, 2005 by tjobbe

[Dr. Rat]

I think the relevant story behind is that he can hardly play any instrument but was considered a musical genius by the british media....and the others that picked up the stroy as well.

ok ok.. there are lot that make a fortune nowadays in the music business that do not have a clue what music is about, but hey... who would call Victoria "Posh" Beckham a genius

Cheers, Tjobbe

EDIT: there is a new story in a japanese Newspaper about a musical genius playing  the  Tenor Sax like Coltrane. They had a picture attached that looked like this. Does anyone recognizes this man:

←

Reports say there is still dispute about his level of musical skill.

--eric

[tjobbe]

....

←

Reports say there is still dispute about his level of musical skill.

--eric

←

I'm sure there is.....

Cheers, Tjobbe

[Hardbopjazz]

You know, every time we post a Kenny G photo on this board, it equates to a toxic spill. It takes weeks to clean it up, and who knows its long term effect on the board members. We might end up with a rare form of cancer of the senses.

Edited August 24, 2005 by Hardbopjazz

[tjobbe]

just searched BBC.co.uk for piano man and thats what they broadcasted on 2 July, 2005, 04:06 GMT 05:06 UK on the website

Hospital officials trying to discover the identity of the so-called Piano Man are looking into the possibility he could be from Norway.

The virtuoso pianist has not spoken since being found in a soaking wet suit in Sheerness, Kent, in April.

A Norwegian speaker has been trying to communicate with the man, who is in his 20s or early 30s, after he was shown a map and pointed to Oslo.

Cheers, Tjobbe