Friend’s anguish over Covid loss inspires NHS charity single
RELEASED TODAY: The cover of the single Dancing & Free. Image copyright: Frankie Carvalho
A woman who lost her close friend to Covid-19, then nearly lost her brother, has enlisted music industry big hitters to help her release a charity single in aid of Hull hospitals.
Sales of Dancing & Free, which is released today, will raise money for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to thank hospital staff for the care shown to Frankie Carvalho’s brother, Glen, at Castle Hill Hospital.
Amy di Bartolomeo from the West End’s We Will Rock You provides vocals, while Boy George’s vocal coach, Christopher David Mitchell, and James Hawkins, who co-produced the single You’ll Never Walk Alone with the late Captain Sir Tom Moore and Michael Ball, have also been involved behind the scenes.
Frankie, from London, saw three of her nearest and dearest badly affected by coronavirus last year, including her good friend Vivienne, who lost her fight for life.
Her sister-in-law was also taken ill and her brother was hospitalised due to the same disease, all within a matter of weeks.
Frankie, 74, who comes from a “very musical family”, has been drawing strength from her friends during the most turbulent of years, and is now spearheading a fundraising initiative for the hospital which saved the life of her younger brother.
She said: “In April last year, I was devastated by the loss of my dear friend Vivienne to coronavirus. She was admitted to Lewisham Hospital in London, which is where she passed away.
“Losing her was such a shock, it was something none of us; her friends and family, expected. And of course, due to Covid restrictions, I and many others were unable to attend her funeral. I had to park nearby and watch the service whilst sitting in my car, tears rolling down my face, as it was streamed to our phones. It was just too cruel and saddening to bear; saying goodbye to a friend should never be like this.
‘DEVASTATING LOSS’: Frankie Carvalho’s friend Vivienne, who died from coronavirus
“One month later, my sister-in-law Sam, who lives in Willerby, near Hull, tested positive for Covid-19. It brought this whole pandemic even closer to home and fear struck me once again. Despite her best efforts to self-isolate at home, inevitably my brother Glen went on to catch the virus too.
“I always feared my brother getting this disease as he already had reduced lung capacity. Glen spent almost six weeks on Ward 7, Castle Hill Hospital’s infectious diseases unit, where he was in receipt of high dependency care.
“He had suffered a pulmonary aneurysm as a result of Covid-19 and had blood clots in his lungs. Breathing was extremely difficult for him, his need for oxygen intensified, he lost two stones in weight, and just walking to the bathroom was almost impossible.
“It was touch and go many times, but eventually he started to improve and he has been back at home for several months now.
“Although he is not completely recovered, he is so very much better than he was. Without the impeccable care Glen received at Castle Hill Hospital, I could well be telling a different story. This is the reality, the horror.”
RECOVERING: Frankie Carvalho’s brother Glen, who was treated at Castle Hill Hospital
Over the course of her ordeal, Frankie drew strength from the many messages of support from friends and loved ones, and as a self-confessed amateur writer, she turned to poetry to help her process and express what was happening.
“During this terrible time, I started writing a poem to let all my feelings out on paper,” she said. “I sat and wrote and wrote and wrote. I poured it all out. I wanted to show my story, Glen’s story, Vivienne’s story, and the trauma and hope and support we went through and received. I had to get it out.”
The poem eventually developed into a song, and Frankie enlisted the help of some big names in the music industry such as James Hawkins, who co-produced the single You’ll Never Walk Alone with the late Captain Sir Tom Moore and Michael Ball.
Later, Frankie worked with Boy George’s vocal coach, Christopher David Mitchell, and his partner Oliver Delbos, from The Recording Artist Programme to move her emerging project forward and create something really special.
Adverts for a singer to be able to turn Frankie’s poem, Dancing & Free, into a single, attracted over 300 applications, and the multi-talented West End performer and star of We Will Rock You, Amy di Bartolomeo, was chosen to record the song.
‘CAPTURED IT PERFECTLY’: Singer Amy di Bartolomeo
Frankie said: “I’m so pleased with Amy’s interpretation of my lyrics, and her beautiful voice is just amazing. To be able to express my love for my brother Glen, Sam and Vivienne, and to share our story in this way is something I hope will be an inspiration to others.”
The single, described as “haunting and powerful”, is be released on Apple Music/iTunes and Spotify today. Proceeds will be donated to the hospital trust’s official charity, WISHH, as a gesture of thanks for the care shown to Glen by Castle Hill staff during his time in hospital.
Lisa Whitton, WISHH charity manager, said: “Covid-19 has had such an impact on so many families, friends and loved ones. By Frankie channelling her own experience into creating this beautiful and powerful single, the lyrics will resonate with many who have been touched by Covid.
“Funds raised from Dancing & Free will enable the WISHH charity to continue to support staff and patients across Hull hospitals both now and beyond the pandemic. Thank you so much Frankie for telling your story and for making this single a reality to support Hull hospitals.”
IN THE STUDIO: From left, Oliver Delbos, Frankie Carvalho, Christopher David Mitchell, and Amy di Bartolomeo
Frankie added: “If anyone had told me this time last year of all the downs and the resulting ups 2020 would bring me, I would never have believed them. 2020 was a bad year for so many and this is just my story, a story among hundreds of other stories.
“I don’t know how I pulled myself out of the darkness because so many times I felt so hopeless and desperate. There are so many lines in my song that speak volumes, but the one line, ‘where would we be without our friends there?’ speaks volumes and is so true. I owe a debt of thanks to my friends who were there when I needed them so badly.
“It’s been quite a journey and one that I never thought I would travel. At the age of 74, I created a song and became a songwriter. From darkness into light, we survived, with a little help from friends.”