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ABC News
ABC News
Health
By Scott Lamond and Sheridan Stewart

Wheelie bin crooner sings away the lockdown blues from his driveway

Dave Stygall says his daughter inspired him to update New York, New York to suit the lockdown.

Singing into a replica Elvis-era microphone to the sounds of Sinatra, Dave Stygall is wearing a tuxedo and fully amplified.

But unlike Ol' Blue Eyes his stage is a driveway.

His neighbours drag chairs and blankets to their front lawn, and with drinks in hand they settle in to listen to the live music — a rare treat in times of the COVID-19 lockdown.

The 66-year-old crooner from the coastal town of Bargara in Queensland has become a hit after he belted out a version of the classic New York, New York with the amended lyrics "Start spreading the news/It's bin day today".

The online video has reached more than 300,000 people after being shared by the popular Bin Isolating Outing group on social media.

He has even attracted worldwide interest with CBS News requesting permission to use the video.

"It was my daughter who put me up to it when she sent me the link to the Facebook group. So when I put the bins out on Wednesday, I did it," Mr Stygall said.

"I got to wake up from the rubbish truck/Broke me from sleep/And now I think I can hear it/Coming down my street," he sings to the tune of the Frank Sinatra classic.

Surprisingly, it was not until he retired in 2012 after a career in hospitality that he properly found his voice.

"I used to sing all the time at work and people told me to do something with it," he said.

"My wife surprised me with some voice lessons, and the rest is history.

"I was performing at a couple of restaurants and aged care facilities before the COVID-19 crisis and obviously that work has dried up in the lockdown."

Global interest in driveway concert

He said there was renewed interest thanks to the tunes he belted out from the driveway.

"I've had some upcoming offers, once restrictions are relaxed, so I'll get busy. And it's a really nice way to retire," he said.

After the interest from the bin day video, he live-streamed an almost two hour concert from the front of his house, singing all-time classics from artists including Dean Martin, Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald.

He said there were plans for more concerts too.

"I've had almost all my neighbours tapping their feet and dancing along," he said.

"My wife says I should do another concert in a couple of weeks time."

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