I’ve got the all-clear over dementia... I’m just old!
TONY CHRISTIE has told of his relief at getting the all-clear from dementia.
The 76-year-old singer, best known for his chart-topping single (Isthisthe Wayto)amarillo?, was terrified he had developed the disease.
It followed bouts of forgetfulness and appearing confused in an episode of Pointless Celebrities.
Dementia runs in his family – his late father Paddy had it – andtony admits he had been reluctant to go to a doctor. Finally he relented.
“I was reticent to be tested because I would rather have not known if I did have dementia,” says the star.
“But after speaking to my darling wife Sue, I went to the doctor last December and the results revealed I haven’t got dementia and I can’t tell you how relieved I feel.
“When I went to the doctor about it, I said, ‘I keep forgetting things, I can remember everything from donkey’s years ago but I can’t remember something I have done yesterday or said 20
minutes ago’. But after the test showed I was clear, the doctor just said it is old age, but it is frustrating. One of my worst fears is getting dementia.
“I do worry about forgetting my words when I get up on stage but that’s why my son Sean, who is my manager, goes with me to gigs and I use a prompter, an autocue, with all the lyrics to all the songs I perform live. Even songs I have been singing for 40-odd years, I do start forgetting the odd word.
“Sadly my dad Paddy, who was a very clever man, got dementia in his 70s. “He was one of these quiz kings and he was barred from a lot of pubs.
Even if he wasn’t in the team he would stand at the bar shouting out the answers.
“But I remember when him and mum came to visit us in Spain and he was pacing around on our veranda tutting and I said, ‘Dad, what is the matter with you?’ and he said, ‘I can’t remember the nickname for this certain state in America’ and I replied, ‘Dad, it is not important’ and he said, ‘It is to me’.”
Born in Southyorkshire in 1943, Tony’s career has spanned six decades.
He has sold more than 10 million records around the world and has had a string of hits including I Did What I Did For Maria and Avenues And Alleyways.
Most recently he performed to a sell-out crowd at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. He last topped the charts 15 years ago.
● For tour dates: tonychristie.com
‘I use autocue for my songs’