81-year-old man wows nursing home crowd with stunning impromptu song

By Jessica Hehir-Smith via SWNS

This 81-year-old retired medical assistant wowed nursing home residents with an impromptu vocal performance at a fundraiser.

Dave Williams stunned everyone with his note-perfect rendition of "Unchained Melody", by The Righteous Brothers.

But the virtuoso performance would have come as no shock to those who knew Dave as he had previously sang with The Beatles - THREE TIMES.

Staff at Park View Nursing Home in Liverpool had organized a picnic party with games and refreshments for their residents, family, friends.

Guests enjoyed a performance from local vocalist Toni Nesbitt when Dave asked if he could sing a song himself.

Dave, the father of Park View’s chef Debbie Williams, stood up and blew the entire room away.

He said: “When I got up my daughter was begging me to sit back down, but I’m glad I didn’t!

“One of the audience was a patient with dementia - after my performance, I saw her singing the song to herself, which was brilliant.

“I owe my life and my happiness to the NHS.

“I know it’s going through a bad patch but it really is an excellent service with excellent people who give 100%."

Wellbeing Coordinator Jodie Solaiman spoke to Dave after his stellar performance and discovered that he had also sung with The Beatles - on three occasions.

Dave started working at Sefton General Hospital, when he was just 15, and spent his free time practicing with his band called The Dices.

His band appeared alongside The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr at the Morgue Skiffle Cellar in Broadgreen, Liverpool in 1958 - although 18-year-old Ringo was not yet then a worldwide superstar.

Dave decided to go solo when he was 17 and secured a gig singing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights for £3 a night at a small club in Brighton.

He sang with The Beatles at Knotty Ash Village Hall in Liverpool in 1961 - after his friend asked the band if he could get up and join them.

Dave also performed in front of hundreds of people, including Mel C of the Spice Girls, at Paul McCartney's 58th Birthday on 17th June 2000 at the Linda McCartney Centre, in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

He said: “It was all surreal and something I will never ever forget. The gig at Knotty Ash was a bit awkward - I may have been a bit out of key but I got a good clap!

“At Paul’s birthday, people from around the world came to be there. I’ve been lucky to have these experiences!”

Dave has also worked for the NHS for nearly 50 years, working in operating theatres around Merseyside whilst sharing his love for music.

Jodie, 25, described how stunned audience members were at his incredibly passionate performance and powerful voice.

She said: “Words can’t explain how we all felt after his performance. Dave has lived an incredible life, to say the least. He has said he would love to perform for us again!”

Jodie shared the video of Dave to Park View’s TikTok profile, where it has now amassed over 500,000 views.

The video has gained comments from viewers across the world, praising Dave for singing his heart out and inspiring people to enjoy themselves.

The incredible online reaction has been astounding for Dave, who doesn’t use social media, and had not even heard about the social media app before his viral stunt.

Dave was dumbfounded when he went into his local betting shop the following day and the whole shop was clapping and cheering for him.

This video was taken on 23rd July 2022.