Scottish billionaire Sir Tom Hunter has donated £1million to dementia charities after watching an online music performance.
The businessman was so inspired by former music teacher, Paul Harvey, that he immediately vowed to stump up the money.
A clip of Paul, 80, playing a piece of music based on just four notes went viral after his son, Nick posted it online to show how musical ability can survive memory loss.
Sir Tom, who lost both his parents to Alzheimer’s, said the performance “lit up the screen.”
Speaking via video link to the Harveys on BBC Breakfast, he said: “We were so moved my wife and I, when we saw your wonderful piece on BBC Breakfast and in a time where people are searching for good news, you lit up the screen with first of all, the relationship between the father and son and then the relationship with music.
“So my wife Marion and I would like to help you by donating a million pounds from the Hunter Foundation to help put a light into trying to release people from Alzheimer’s.
“We really believe music is a key. We really believe you’re onto something and we really want to help.
“In this confusing time some things never change and the things that never change are a father’s love for his son and a son’s love for his father.”
Fighting back tears, Mr Harvey replied: “That is fantastic. Thanks very much. I didn’t think I could be moved much more now but I can.
Sir Tom then added: “My wife Marion and I were lying in bed and this piece came on and it was like something so special.
“So my dad was, and is, my hero. It really resonated with myself because I lost both my mum and my dad to Alzheimer’s.
“We decided we were not going to be the richest people in the graveyard and really guided by Andrew Carnegie, who said you should do something with your money while you’re still alive.”
Mr Harvey, a composer from Buxted, in Sussex, was diagnosed with dementia late last year but has continued to be able to play piano pieces from memory - as well as create new ones.
His son said it had been an "old party trick" of his father's to request four random notes and then improvise a song.
In the video Nick picked F natural, A, D and B natural for his father to play.
The Clip went viral and the performance was then aired on Radio 4.
Sir Tom’s astonishing donation will be split between the Alzheimer's Society and Music for Dementia.
