TEXARKANA, TEXAS -When David Moore sits down at the piano and starts playing the Ray Charles song "Georgia On My Mind," residents and staff of Cornerstone Retirement Community start drifting in from other parts of the building.
"He's so good. We love to hear him play," is a common response from residents.
When Moore started playing an Elvis song, some even started dancing.
Moore works for Cornerstone's maintenance department. But before he worked there, he volunteered time playing the piano for residents. He was known as "the Piano Man."
"People say, 'hey, Piano Man, play us a melody' so I stop what I'm doing and play for a bit," said Moore.
He plays gospel and hymns, along with blues, rock and R&B.
One day while playing piano as a volunteer, he mentioned he was looking for a job and an employee mentioned Cornerstone was hiring in the maintenance department.
He describes himself as a people person and loves the interaction with the residents.
"It's instant gratification when you can help them with things. They are always so appreciative," Moore said.
"I try to address every problem like it's my own."
He also thinks about how he would want his parents treated, when he helps the residents.
When a new resident moves in, Moore always think about how he can make them feel more at home.
When he found out a resident's first language was Japanese, he decided to learn how to say hello and a few other phrases in the language.
When it comes to his music, Moore is self-taught and has never had a piano lesson.
He started playing piano and organ when he was 14. He was a junior usher in his church assisting the musicians during a revival when a visiting minister asked him if he played organ.
Moore said he never had, and thought it was funny that the minister kept insisting he play. But when he sat down at the organ, it seemed he had a natural gift.
"I sat down and the next thing I know I was playing. I was playing right along with the piano player," he said.
Moore enjoys bringing people together through music. He also loves the emotion that music brings out.
"Music is so powerful. It does not need your permission to enter. People put up a firewall but it gets in." he said.
Moore is a native of Texarkana. He and his wife Pamela met in seventh grade and then reconnected in their 20s and married. They have six children.
David Moore plays "Georgia On My Mind" at Cornerstone Retirement Community (staff photo by Lori Dunn)
David Moore plays piano at Cornerstone Retirement Community (staff photo by Lori Dunn)