Oldbury pianist playing to support the NHS
A self-taught pianist has been making music to pay his own tributes to the NHS.
Ranesh Bhutta has been taking to his garden at his home in Oldbury to pay tribute to the NHS by playing a series of inspirational songs on his keyboard.
The 45-year-old has played "Somewhere over the rainbow" each week during the clap for the NHS, alongside other songs by the likes of Ed Sheeran and John Legend.
He said it was a way to help raise morale for people during the coronavirus pandemic and spoke of the significance of playing "Somewhere over the rainbow".
He said: "I'm just trying to do my little bit to keep morale high in these dark times.
"Part of the reason why I play 'Somewhere over the rainbow' is the lyrics to the song as we're all going through dark times, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
"The lyrics are very poignant and fit what we're going through at the moment, but we know that, one day, the dark days will be over."
Ranesh, who describes himself as a Bollywood pianist, has played keyboards in DCS, a Bhangra band, for more than 20 years and taught himself how to play the piano more than four years ago.
He said he was following in the musical tradition of his family, with his father Ram being one of the first Indians to release an album in the 1960s.
He also said he wanted to do the playing outside to give back to the NHS, with his sister Nina working as a nurse in London and his sister in law Raj working in a care home.
Ranesh has said he aims to continue playing the piano for his neighbours during the lockdown and had this message for the public.
He said: "My message would be to stay safe, keep well, keep the faith and we'll all be together, someday.
"It's nice to give out and give a little bit back to the NHS to say thank you and let them know everybody's thinking about you."
