Homeless Man Stuns Passersby By Playing Styx’s ‘Come Sail Away’ On Street Piano
Donald Gould, a 51-year-old homeless man in Sarasota, Florida, recently captured the internet’s attention after a video of him playing a beautiful piano rendition of Styx’s ‘Come Sail Away’ went viral. Before losing his wife and falling on hard times, this man was a Marine Corp clarinet player and was on course to become a music teacher.
In the video, he plays his heartfelt rendition of the classic song on a piano left outside by Sarasota Keys, a music store that has placed popularly-acclaimed outdoor pianos throughout the city for anyone to play.
So far, one nearby bar called Surf Shack has offered to give Gould a tryout as a piano player for their upstairs piano bar. He is also searching for his now-18-year-old son, whom he lost to child services after losing his wife and turning to drugs. Hopefully, this video will throw many opportunities his way; a GoFundMe account has been created on his behalf as well!
More info: mysuncoast.com | GoFundMe | Facebook
This homeless man walked up to a piano and started playing Styx’s ‘Come Sail Away’
The video become an instant viral sensation with more than 1.4 million views
Donald Gould, a 51-year-old homeless man in Sarasota, Florida, has been homeless for 6-7 years
He became homeless after losing his wife and turning to substance abuse. He then lost his son to child services as well
The video has lead to one job tryout offer, and we hope it will give him the opportunity to complete his musical education as well!
His interview after the video went viral:
You can help him by donating to this GoFundMe on his behalf
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Hopefully this will change the opinion that too many people have about homeless people. They aren't all drunks and junkies, but it can happen to anyone who goes through a bad time and loses everything. Some of them have degrees, speak several languages and are talented musicians like this man.
He was interviewed by a local newspaper and told the journalist his real passion is the clarinet and a reader gave him his old one. The homeless man was very thankful.
Am I the only one who was moved to tears? That song specifically being played by a homeless person... Heartbreaking.
After 2 yrs out there myself,, i can vouch for that Tiny ,You never know what tomorrow can bring .Now at 56 and all family gone.You really are grateful to have a home and pets. After a divorce and a mother who wished me gone as she think my step father did not like me ..Can make you devastated knowing ..wow ..I have no where to go '.I met Randy in 93 an life changed for 20 yrs.Then I loss him in 2012 along with mom and brother too..No .I hang on to what i have now and my son from former marriage is grown and i have grandbaby now .But life doesn't guarantee you nothing .I am so blessed today .but wish i thought more of what i had when i did have it all And health issues are a whole nother problem..You have to take care of yourself now..You may not have tomorrow ..
this is homeless musicant form prague - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad6Vty2Ml_c he even have more videos form people around city.. if you want to see more of him search on YT "Letenský George"
As George is a professional troubadour, he needs a professional camera man with him all the way to record his plays! Thank you! He's amazing!
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That pretty lady was quite distracting and I didn't like the way she was making things obvious towards the end with the money and all... I know she helped documenting and spreading the word around but some things doesn't need to be cheapened.... He was pouring his soul while playing and she kept prancing around and even towards the end talked to him while keeping the money in the hat... not nice. Very distracting... Touching video... It could have been more touching without distraction....
Dear me, did anybody believe that down and outs can't have musical skills? And it's not exactly difficult, what he's playing. Yes, even people, who once learned to play some instruments, can lose there home. What a revelation! But the piece he's playing sounds nice :)
Thx, but afterword he should been chased off to leave the decent among us unencumbered with this sort of filth.
I really hope someone does a follow up video of him, would love to see the outcome of things to come
Beauty can be found almost everywhere; we just need to stop and let it find us.
I love reading these remarkable life changing events ....... rather than all the negatives that seem to get more attention.... thank you for the post.
Speaks volumes of Social Services doesn't it? They took his son away from him but failed to see that he was suffering from deep depression and heartbreak because he lost his wife.
This man is a treat ..We have a homeless man here in Dayton area who died with millions in bank. It dont matter the money ,you can still be miserable. I know i am happy poor but i am too blessed with ssd .Then i had nothing .You have to have family and when you loose that , well ..Jesus will never leave you .If your faith is good.,no one should be homeless but today ..you just never know ..Families are homeless today .Not just one .It also does not mean the issues are toxic .You can be working one minute and broke in 5 . Never get comfortable .ever .
Excelente!! Un verdadero talento desconocido debido a circunstancias adversas de la vida. Ojalá cambie su rumbo ahora que se ha conocido su situación.
This is real passion surrounded y angels. Music runs throught his vains . Beautiful!
I hope the fund helps him get a new home and money to keep it. He plays beautifully.
As a long haul trucker for near 30 years I have known many homeless people in many cities, Some have amazed me and caused me to wonder how they got in that situation. In this land of plenty we call America there should be no reason for so many to live this way but one misfortune and it is so hard to recover, Why? I dont remember it this way 50 years ago!
Hopefully this will change the opinion that too many people have about homeless people. They aren't all drunks and junkies, but it can happen to anyone who goes through a bad time and loses everything. Some of them have degrees, speak several languages and are talented musicians like this man.
He was interviewed by a local newspaper and told the journalist his real passion is the clarinet and a reader gave him his old one. The homeless man was very thankful.
Am I the only one who was moved to tears? That song specifically being played by a homeless person... Heartbreaking.
After 2 yrs out there myself,, i can vouch for that Tiny ,You never know what tomorrow can bring .Now at 56 and all family gone.You really are grateful to have a home and pets. After a divorce and a mother who wished me gone as she think my step father did not like me ..Can make you devastated knowing ..wow ..I have no where to go '.I met Randy in 93 an life changed for 20 yrs.Then I loss him in 2012 along with mom and brother too..No .I hang on to what i have now and my son from former marriage is grown and i have grandbaby now .But life doesn't guarantee you nothing .I am so blessed today .but wish i thought more of what i had when i did have it all And health issues are a whole nother problem..You have to take care of yourself now..You may not have tomorrow ..
this is homeless musicant form prague - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad6Vty2Ml_c he even have more videos form people around city.. if you want to see more of him search on YT "Letenský George"
As George is a professional troubadour, he needs a professional camera man with him all the way to record his plays! Thank you! He's amazing!
Load More Replies... That pretty lady was quite distracting and I didn't like the way she was making things obvious towards the end with the money and all... I know she helped documenting and spreading the word around but some things doesn't need to be cheapened.... He was pouring his soul while playing and she kept prancing around and even towards the end talked to him while keeping the money in the hat... not nice. Very distracting... Touching video... It could have been more touching without distraction....
Dear me, did anybody believe that down and outs can't have musical skills? And it's not exactly difficult, what he's playing. Yes, even people, who once learned to play some instruments, can lose there home. What a revelation! But the piece he's playing sounds nice :)
Thx, but afterword he should been chased off to leave the decent among us unencumbered with this sort of filth.
I really hope someone does a follow up video of him, would love to see the outcome of things to come
Beauty can be found almost everywhere; we just need to stop and let it find us.
I love reading these remarkable life changing events ....... rather than all the negatives that seem to get more attention.... thank you for the post.
Speaks volumes of Social Services doesn't it? They took his son away from him but failed to see that he was suffering from deep depression and heartbreak because he lost his wife.
This man is a treat ..We have a homeless man here in Dayton area who died with millions in bank. It dont matter the money ,you can still be miserable. I know i am happy poor but i am too blessed with ssd .Then i had nothing .You have to have family and when you loose that , well ..Jesus will never leave you .If your faith is good.,no one should be homeless but today ..you just never know ..Families are homeless today .Not just one .It also does not mean the issues are toxic .You can be working one minute and broke in 5 . Never get comfortable .ever .
Excelente!! Un verdadero talento desconocido debido a circunstancias adversas de la vida. Ojalá cambie su rumbo ahora que se ha conocido su situación.
This is real passion surrounded y angels. Music runs throught his vains . Beautiful!
I hope the fund helps him get a new home and money to keep it. He plays beautifully.
As a long haul trucker for near 30 years I have known many homeless people in many cities, Some have amazed me and caused me to wonder how they got in that situation. In this land of plenty we call America there should be no reason for so many to live this way but one misfortune and it is so hard to recover, Why? I dont remember it this way 50 years ago!
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