A ‘fairytale end to an incredible story,’as the former music teacher who is now living with dementia is given an OBE in the King’s birthday honors.

A pianist who is living with Alzheimer’s has been given an OBE in the King’s birthday honors for 2023, turning four random piano sounds into three amazing letters.

Paul Harvey has become well-known online over the past four years thanks to his moving piano performances and invigorating, unplanned compositions.

In June 2019, Paul’s son Nick, an East Sussex-based TV composer, posted the first video of his father’s playing on Twitter.

My father has dementia. He occasionally seems to vanish into another reality, and I worry that I’m losing him.

But when he plays the piano, he is never more in the moment,’ his son wrote in one tweet. View him perform above.

In his most well-known performance, the pianist created a stunning, broad piano improvisation out of four notes that his kid gave him to play.

Millions of people watched the viral video of the song that was based on the notes F, A, D, and B on social media.

After sharing their message about the benefits of music for those with dementia, Harvey and his son gained prominence on television.

In 2020, ‘Four Notes – Paul’s Tune,’ a recorded follow-up to this improvisation, was made available as a charity single.

It collected more than £1 million for Music for Dementia and the Alzheimer’s Society and peaked at No. 1 on the UK singles download chart.

After that, in December 2021, the pianist collaborated with singer and Classic FM broadcaster Aled Jones on the charity record ‘Christmas Isn’t Just Another Day’ during the holiday season.

As part of the King’s birthday honors, which were announced before to the monarch’s actual birthday on June 17, 2023,

Harvey’s fundraising efforts were recognized with the awarding of an OBE for services to charity and those

with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The 83-year-old pianist has contributed more than £1.5 million to such charities overall.

At the age of four, Harvey earned his Grade 1 piano diploma and went on to study at London’s Guildhall School of Music.

Prior to the birth of his son, Nick, he worked as a composer and pianist. After Nick was born, he started teaching at East Grinstead’s Imberhorne School.

He served as the music department’s head for 20 years while there. Alzheimer’s disease was identified in him in 2019.

The OBE, according to his son Nick Harvey, is a ‘fairytale conclusion to an unbelievable journey. Dad is so moved by it that he is speechless.

‘Dad, we are bursting with pride and love you to the moon and back,’ your three sons said.