Tony Christie speaks out after heartbreaking dementia diagnosis

‘It threw me for a moment’: Amarillo singer Tony Christie, 79, on fears he won’t be able to work again after heartbreaking dementia diagnosis

  • Tony was diagnosed with the condition last year after memory problems
  • He had been struggling to remember people’s names and other information
  • The star fears he may have to stop performing but is recording new music now

Tony Christie has spoken out about his heartbreaking dementia diagnosis, admitting: ‘It threw me for a moment.’

The singer, 79, recently informed his wife Sue, 73, he had been struggling to remember people’s names and other bits of information and she encouraged him to get it checked.

And he has now said he fears the day he may no longer be able to perform, telling the Mirror: ‘I’m used to working, it’s daunting when I don’t work, and I love the music – and that is good for what I have got, it’s medication.

Fears: Tony Christie, 79, has spoken out about his heartbreaking dementia diagnosis, admitting: ‘It threw me for a moment’

‘Whatever this is, it is, and we will deal with it. I was a little bit down but I thought, “I can still work, it’s not affecting my singing, my voice, my show.”

‘As long as I can get on that stage and do what I was born to do.’  

Tony previously revealed he was concerned he was developing dementia after noticing his memory has been getting worse back in 2019.

Staying focussed: For now, Tony is trying not to ‘dwell’ on the diagnosis and he is about to travel to Nashville, Tennessee to record new music

The (Is This The Way To) Amarillo star said that despite performing the same songs for 50 years he now needs the lyrics on an autocue.

For now, Tony is trying not to ‘dwell’ on the diagnosis and he is about to travel to Nashville, Tennessee to record new music.

However, the star admits he fears the day may come when he won’t be able to get up on stage again, despite his wife of 55 years Sue’s insistence: ‘He will never lose that. We won’t let him lose that.’

Fears: The star admits he fears the day may come when he won’t be able to get up on stage again, despite his wife of 55 years Sue’s insistence he ‘won’t lost that’

Tony added that he doesn’t worry over not being to sing Amarillo, joking that the crowd sings it for him during his shows.

While his longterm memory is still clear, he admits he struggles to remember things in recent times.

But he sees a positive in the situation in that if it encourages other people to get tested and go on medication, then he will be pleased.

And he insists the show must go on, with the singer planning a celebratory gig for his upcoming 80th birthday. 

The hitmaker previously told how a test two years ago revealed a small build up of plaque on his brain was leading to memory problems.  

Tony told the Mirror: ‘I’ve noticed for a few years now that my memory has been getting worse, which is a serious concern especially as there’s history of dementia in my family.

Performer: The (Is This The Way To) Amarillo star, pictured in 1973, revealed that he now has to have his lyrics on an autocue even though he’s been singing them for half a century 

‘It’s got to the point where I have to have the lyrics to all the songs I perform live written on autocue, and most of them I’ve been singing for half a century.’

However the star tried to remain positive, and added: ‘If it is bad news I’m expecting jokes from people saying they always suspected as much, seeing as I clearly still don’t know the way to Amarillo 48 years after that song was first a hit.’  

Tony also revealed he has had to write down his bandmates’ names as to ensure he doesn’t introduce them wrongly on stage.

And at a recent gig in Germany the I Did What I Did For Maria singer got the city he was in wrong, thinking he was in Hamburg when really he was in Leipzig.

Tony explained that although he tried to make a joke of it, the moment was ‘actually no laughing matter for me.’

He also had trouble remembering things while writing autobiography The Song Interpreter and had to ask his wife of 51 years Sue for help.  

Although Tony’s hits included Las Vegas and I Did What I Did For Maria, Amarillo was his first song to sell a million copies.

The catchy tune was a hit again when in 2005 it was used by Peter Kay for a Comic Relief video.  

Originally, Tony was to star in the number with Peter Kay, but his involvement was whittled down until he was dropped from the filming schedule altogether.

Only a furious phone call from his manager son Sean, threatening to withhold permission to use the song, got him reinstated . . . for just 14 seconds of footage.

Star: Tony’s hits include Las Vegas and I Did What I Did For Maria, but sing-a-long classic Amarillo was his first song to sell a million copies. Tony is pictured performing in 1967

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