Watch the amazing voice below.
[rumble video_id=v1fjpd domain_id=u7nb2]
Video credit: Rumble
Sometimes you never know what jewels you can encounter on the street even in places that you know like the back of your hand.
Jonathan Walker has been busking for the past 15 years and is also the director of the Keep Streets Live Campaign, a non-profit that is advocating to keep public spaces open for informal performances of music and art as well as the rights of homeless people to stay in these spaces.
Over the years, Jonathan has seen a homeless man named Bernard in his area a few times but they’ve never really interacted. But that all changed one time during one New Year’s Eve. Jonathan was doing his thing in Leeds, UK, when Bernard suddenly approached him and asked if he could sing.
Jonathan didn’t really know if Bernard could really sing but decided to play along in the spirit of the holidays. The following video captures that exact moment that Bernard started singing and everyone was stunned at his beautiful rendition of George Gershwin’s ‘Summertime.’ One lady off-camera could even be heard saying, “He’s so good!”
Jonathan was also pleasantly surprised at the hidden talent from this man that he had seen throughout the years but never had a chance to really speak to. And he must have been glad that he gave in to the old man’s request.
In the YouTube video he uploaded, Jonathan wrote: “My spontaneous street jam with Bernard Davey was a soul-affirming, enriching experience which summed up everything I love about street culture. I was blown away by his voice and the passion of his delivery, and I asked someone standing nearby to film the encounter on my phone.
“I hope Bernard’s amazing improvised version of ‘Summertime’ helps people to remember not to judge people they see on the streets according to their appearances, but to always look below the surface appearance and find the person underneath.”
Well said, indeed!