Singer Tony Christie, who was diagnosed with dementia in January, remains positive about his future and has even recorded a charity single to raise awareness

The song Thank You for Being a Friend – re-recorded by singing legend Tony Christie, who announced in January that he had been diagnosed with dementia – has been launched by the Music for Dementia campaign for Thank You Day 2023 in July.

Christie was joined by a stellar lineup of singers, musicians and producers, including Sting, Nile Rodgers, Graham Gouldman and Graeme Pleeth, many of whom have lost a family member to dementia. They were joined on the recording by a small orchestra from Manchester Camerata, the UK’s most relentlessly pioneering orchestra and global leader in music and dementia.

The song forms the centrepiece of this year’s Thank You Day celebrations.

Music for Dementia is leading the Thank You Day 2023 music activities, and all proceeds from the single will go to The Power of Music Fund, being convened by the National Academy of Social Prescribing, kickstarted by £1 million of support from The Utley Foundation.

Dementia choirs

The Power of Music Fund has already distributed £100,000 this year to dementia choirs across the UK. Round Two of the fund will launch this Autumn, supporting dementia choirs, carers groups and care home projects, among others, ultimately ensuring strong connections between the NHS and community groups to support those living with dementia.

Managing Director at Music for Dementia, Sarah Metcalfe said: “We are bowled over that Tony Christie has brought so many talented people together to sing the Thank You Day anthem and share the message that music can help people living with dementia. Sunday 2 July is going to be a real celebration, bringing communities together all over the UK. It’s so catchy that I can’t stop singing it!”

Christie, who turned 80 in April of this year, was friends with Andrew Gold who wrote and released Thank You for Being a Friend in 1978. It has been rerecorded with the blessing of the late Gold’s wife, Leslie Ann Kogan.

Studio singalong

Five carers from around the UK were invited to the studio to sing on the song with Christie. Therese Poteratchi and Zoe Antoniades from West London, Katie Neal from Oxford, Gez Ossai from Cheltenham and Graeme Sutherland from Glasgow can be heard on backing vocals – special voices representing the community Thank You Day is focusing on.

The song will form the centrepiece of this year’s Thank You Day celebrations, as organisers call on the nation to do two things to celebrate the day: Download the song at thankyouday.org.uk/music

While music is in Christie’s blood, it has been a lifeline to him and his family following his dementia diagnosis and they have all put their hearts and souls into the recording.

Christie explains: “Performing, staying positive and trying not to let dementia affect my life really lifts me so taking part in Thank You Day has been a privilege and a blessing; not just for me but for my whole family, including my wife Sue who’s behind me every step of the way. Sue supports me rather than cares for me right now, but there are millions of unseen and unsung of carers doing their thing every day and this is our way of thanking them.