Cobourg, Ontario, Canada – September 21, 2014 -- Thanks to a foxy piano and the adoration of a small town Michael McNamara was lost but now he is found. Michael is thrilled to announce more than 1.6 million YouTube views of his spontaneous performances of a Great Big World‘s “Say Something” and Hedley’s “Perfect” on a Cobourg street piano named “Foxgang Amadeus,“ an art installation created by local poet/artist Katriona Dean for the 2014 Cobourg, Ontario, Canada Music Experience. Michael McNamara describes his August 2014 contact with “Foxgang Amadeus” as a big step in his healing journey following a number of losses that started with complete loss of memory in 2010. Then he lost his job, his general health, and many of his relationships. He lost his ability to make music due to a complex of health issues. Michael couldn’t play or sing. Broken, Michael returned to his hometown to be with his aging mother. Shortly after his return home Michael’s mom and Ottawa-based brother were diagnosed with cancer and he became his mom’s caregiver. Both mother and brother died in the winter of 2014 and they were buried on the same day in June 2014. After months of attention to his own health and a bout in hospital, Michael began to venture out around Cobourg on his bicycle. When he came upon Katriona’s street piano at the edge of Cobourg’s Victoria Park, he was struck by its whimsy and sat down to play. “I didn’t have a piano” said Michael. “I couldn’t afford one.” He began to bicycle down to the park daily and crowds gathered whenever he played. In late August a friend told Katriona Dean, the artist who designed and painted “Foxgang Amadeus” that an older man was playing her piano down at the park and was causing a bit of a stir. Katriona raced down to the park, camera in hand, and found Michael playing “Say Something.” Wracked with emotion Katriona recorded his heartfelt performance then posted her shaky video on YouTube to show her friends. Three weeks later Michael’s street-piano performance has gone viral and received over 1 million YouTube views. In the midst of the happy news came the tragic loss of Michaels beloved sister, Clo. Diagnosed with cancer just a month ago, she passed away earlier this week, leaving very little time for the family to prepare. Michael McNamara is a 59 year old Canadian of Irish descent, the second of ten children. He learned guitar in his childhood and played his first gig in a bar at age 18. After years trying to make a living as a journeyman singer/guitarist, Michael switched to piano, eventually winning a job performing on cruise ships. “I worked seven days a week for eight years. I burned out. I took a day job with a financial institution.I am thrilled to think that after everything that has happened that I might be able to return to music and make a living.” “Say Something“ will be Michael McNamara‘s first published single, a cover of a hit by “A Great Big World.“ Michael is now building a repertoire of songs and hopes to release an album of heart-based tunes in the coming months. Katriona Dean is his art director. In a Facebook post on September 16, actor/director Ashton Kutcher wrote: “There should be musical instruments just left all over the place for spontaneous jams.” Michael agrees. Art unites us.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 03:14:03 +0000
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