Don Gould Homeless Musician, Sarasota Florida.

Please turn on your sound and enjoy this.  Proving once again, Homeless People are just that, people like us deserving of respect and not scorn.  This very talented man, is homeless, but that doesn't make him any less talented.  This is Don Gould and his story was told by Deborah Montesano in Sarasota Florida, after Aurone Henry took the initiative.

Aurone stopped, listed,d and filmed Don playing beautifully.  She posted her video on u-tube and when I saw this (remember I schedule posts ahead), the video had been viewed over 4 million times.  So many of us look away, we don't want to see the homeless person.  If we see them, we might be reminded it could be us, or perhaps if we see them; we feel compelled to do something....and it's so much easier to just look away.  It, the problem of homelessness doesn't exist if you don't see it.

Don wanted to be a music teacher, and was a student in Spring Arbor College in Michigan.  He learned to play many instruments from the piccolo to the tuba, but had to leave school before he graduated because he ran out of money.  Later, he got married and started a family.  Then his life took a horrible turn, a turn that could and does affect many of us.  His wife died in 1998, and for him, all was lost.  She was young, and his words, "he lost it."  That led to substance abuse,which lead to his 3 year old son being taken away from him.  A man loved by his wife, his son, a family man....and now he has nothing.

He made his way to Florida after losing his son, though each and everyday he thought about him.  He plays and puts his hat out to collect a little money on a public piano.  Aurone captured his magic on the piano, which has lead to auditions and a job at a piano bar.  Perhaps this will be the 2nd turn around in his life and help get him off the streets.  Perhaps his son would now be 18 will see the video, perhaps they'll re-connect.

Wishing the best for this talent man, Don Gould who life kicked down.  Help us all to understand being homeless is truly something that can happen to anyone.  Help us, as a nation to do what we can to help and to not label them as dangerous, nasty, bums and all the other horrible words you often see associated with being homeless.

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