Strangers tip over $60K to airport’s beloved piano man [Video]

• Piano man Tonee Carter has been known for his infectious musical performances at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.
• So when new audience and influencer Carlos Whittaker heard his music and his situation, he decided to ask his followers to raise a huge tip.
• They ended up raising over $60,000 for the beloved piano man!

Tonee Carter has become known as the beloved piano man at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. His music has lifted the spirits of many a traveler passing through that little corner of the airport’s Concourse A.

One day, motivational speaker and Instagram influencer Carlos Whittaker got to hear Tonee’s music, and knew he had to give the musician a huge tip.

Carlos approached Tonee to show his appreciation and ask if he had Venmo or CashApp to send tips. They soon got chatting, and it was then that Carlos found out about Tonee’s situation.

Carlos shared, “The second he told me he’s on dialysis nine hours a night, wakes up every morning and plays the piano for four hours, I said, ‘This brother is about to get a big tip.’”

Carlos tried his best to document the whole thing discreetly and share it with his nearly 200,000 Instagram followers. He then asked everyone to tip the musician through Venmo and CashApp.

His followers got to witness the total amount rising from just a couple hundred into the thousands! Soon, the tips have reached over $10,000.

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A post shared by Carlos Whittaker (@loswhit)

It was then that Carlos revealed what was happening to Tonee, who simply couldn’t believe it at first. He was soon overwhelmed with emotion when he realized it to be true.

Having to catch his flight, Carlos said that he would leave the tipping lines open and assured Tonee that he would get at least $10,000. It wasn’t long before the total amount reached over $60,000!

Tonee told Channel 2′s Berndt Petersen the next day, “He wanted to give me $10,000. It turned into $55,000. I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ This has been one heck of a 24 hours.”

Tonee added that he didn’t play at the airport for tips, and only wanted to provide entertainment to the travelers passing through.

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A post shared by Carlos Whittaker (@loswhit)

Tonee shared, “I do what I do because I love it. It’s never been about money for me. This is the most fun job I’ve ever had. People love live music. They’ve had a weary travel day. They’re not expecting this, and it changes everything. I love this job.”

The beloved piano man said that the whole thing has been nothing like he ever experienced.

“This is over the top. This is God at work,” he remarked.

Source: WSB-TV