‘I’m an iconic singer with dementia, this Christmas there is a gift the disease can’t take’

EXCLUSIVE: Amarillo singer Tony Christie, 82, was diagnosed with dementia in 2023. Here the Yorkshireman opens up movingly about the power of music to ‘unlock memories you think you’ve lost’

Tony Christie, who is the iconic singer behind the hit song (Is This The Way To) Amarillo, was diagnosed with dementia two years ago. Despite his diagnosis, Tony, 82, continues to perform and make records – and has recently been working on a tour and an album.

Speaking exclusively to OK!, the singer reveals how music is a powerful force in the midst of his diagnosis and explains how you can help the ones you love with dementia by using it as a tool, too.

Music can unlock memories, says the famous crooner

” Christmas has always been about music in my family. The carols, the records playing in the background, the songs that remind you of people you love. But since my dementia diagnosis in 2023, I’ve learned something important: the music is still there, but getting to it isn’t always easy.

I’m one of the lucky ones. I still get to sing almost every day – performing keeps me connected to the songs that have been part of my life for decades. But when it comes to just sitting down and listening to music?

That’s where my wife Sue and my granddaughter Deià come in. Sue suggests the songs, Deià helps with the technology. Together, they make it work.

Recently, Deià found The Ink Spots for me – my dad used to play them when I was young. Hearing that music again filled my heart in a way I can’t quite put into words. That’s what music does when you’re living with dementia.

It unlocks memories you thought you’d lost. It creates moments of connection. It brings calm when anxiety creeps in. And most importantly, it reminds you that you’re still you.

Tony being presented with a gold disc by Lulu for a million worldwide sales of Amarillo in 1972(Image: Daily Mirror)

But most people with dementia can’t access their music as easily as I can. Not because the music isn’t there, but because modern technology has left them behind. Music for Dementia’s research found that only three in ten family carers can stream music with their loved one.

Age UK found that six in ten internet users over 65 never use the internet to stream music or videos. I’m 82 so this does not surprise me! The generation that grew up with The Beatles, Elvis, Motown, rock and roll – are now locked out of it. That’s a tragedy.

This Christmas, Music for Dementia has just released a new Christmas ad called Give the Music Back, and it highlights how technology is leaving older people behind.

It takes a six-year-old granddaughter to give the gift of music, which instantly brings connection and joy to the family. I urge you to watch it. It speaks more powerfully to me than any big-budget retail campaign.

Tony rose to fame in the 70s – and still makes music every day(Image: Redferns)

The ad promotes the charity’s m4dRADIO station – an invaluable resource for families impacted by dementia. It plays non-stop music without ads, presenters or news across six channels, from the 1940s through to the 1980s and a Mix channel. It’s completely free and it’s well worth a listen. You may even hear the playlist that Deià and I created together!

At Christmas, families gather and music is everywhere. But if your mum or dad can’t access the songs that mean something to them, they’re left on the sidelines of their own Christmas.

I’ve seen what music can do. It bonds my family together, connecting over generations and bringing back memories long forgotten. You don’t need to spend a fortune. You don’t need the latest gadget. What you need is something simple, accessible and designed with older people in mind.

If you know someone living with dementia, help them access their music. Sit together, and listen. Make a playlist. Set up a voice activated speaker, like Deià did for me. Or tune in to m4dRADIO.

Music isn’t just entertainment. It’s memory. It’s identity. And everyone deserves access to that. Especially at Christmas.”

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