LICHFIELD singing star Tony Christie has helped launch a new development for a radio station designed for people with dementia.
The performer joined m4dRADIO as it hosted a party to mark its first move to DAB.
The station has previously been available online, but the move means it will now be accessible to more people.
It plays a continuous stream of familiar favourites from across the decades from the 1940s to the 1980s, with music carefully selected to encourage singing, reminiscing, relaxing and enjoying music together.
Tony, who lives with dementia, was joined by his wife Sue to help launch the new DAB service at an event in London where 100 guests were treated to an impromptu live performance.
The singer, who is an ambassador for Music for Dementia, said:
"You can see straight away what music does. It brings people together and it brings memories back.
"You don't have to explain it – you just put a great song on and suddenly everyone's smiling, people start clapping and toes start tapping.
"I’m still out there singing, I’m still listening to music and I’m still discovering songs that take me back to different times in my life. That’s the magic of it.
"Music doesn’t just belong to the past – it keeps you connected to who you are now as well."
Tony and his granddaughter have previously worked together to create a playlist of songs connected to memories from his life.
Tony added:
"I’m very lucky because I have my granddaughter Deià, who is brilliant at finding things and helping me with the technology.
"We can sit together, find an old song and suddenly we're talking about something that happened years ago. That's a lovely thing to be able to do.
"But sometimes you just want to switch on a radio and have the music that you love right there. That's why we love what m4dRADIO is doing. It’s making it easier to use for people like Sue and me."
The m4dRADIO is entirely free of adverts, chat, news and interruptions, instead focusing on delivering music for those living with dementia without the need for a subscription or technology.
It is currently available in London on DAB with the hope to be able to expand it in future. Other areas can still access the station online.
Amy Shackleton, CEO at Music for Dementia, says:
"Music has the power to lift our spirits, spark memories and create moments of joy. We want everyone living with dementia to be able to experience that.
"Bringing m4dRADIO to DAB is an important step in making that experience even easier and more accessible."
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