Lifelong singer Edwin Rayner, 92, from Bournemouth, Dorset, turned to TikTok after losing his wife of 60 years, Margaret, and feeling he had no reason to carry on.
However, after a message he believes was from Margaret urging him to sing again, Edwin found new life in his music.
Starting with performances at local care homes, he began singing his favorite songs, particularly those by Elvis Presley.
His granddaughters introduced him to TikTok, and within days, he had over a thousand likes.
With his newfound social media following, known as “Grandad Sings,” Edwin now has nearly 500,000 TikTok followers and another 150,000 on Instagram, with nearly nine million views on his videos.
Each week, he records his favorite tracks at Sizzle Studios with the help of a local musician, and his granddaughters upload them online.
Edwin, who made a Christmas album and recently finished his eighth, doesn’t sell his music due to copyright restrictions but shares it with family and friends.
A former RAF medic stationed in North Africa and successful tropical fish seller in Tenerife, Edwin’s secret to staying active at 92 is simple: “Age doesn’t matter. People think at 90, 92, you’re finished, you’re not. Keep doing whatever you want to do. Only do it more so.”
Edwin’s favorite song is The Wonder of You by Elvis Presley, which he sings in memory of Margaret, whom he feels is always with him, guiding him as he continues to sing.
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