Through the pandemic and protests, one Bronx man is using music to soothe the souls of his neighbors.
Tony the Piano Player says his music is bringing some much-needed remedies to the neighborhood.
"Initially I think they were bewildered like ‘why is this man on his porch with his piano?’ But they embraced it from the moment it happened, they had people out on the fire escapes, people on the left and right of us, out in the streets, so I think everybody wanted it and they were happy to see it," says Anthony Ramirez.
Between the hardships people were facing through the pandemic and the unrest during the Black Lives Matter movement, Ramirez was encouraged by his sons to bring some peace to his neighbors through music.
"It’s an outlet for him as much as it’s an outlet for people that are listening, so it’s a gift for everyone involved," says Paul Ramirez, Tony's son.
Not only does he get to ease the pain in his neighborhood of Parkchester, but his livestream reaches all over the world.
"Unbelievable to find out people in Europe are listening to you, people in Australia," says Ramirez.
He says he’s happy to bring everyone a little closer.
"Music helps us feel connected it opens our heart to those near and those far and it soothes the soul," says Ramirez.