Edinburgh woman, 83, with dementia to release charity single duet of Frank Sinatra's My Way in Hogmanay No.1 bid

A video of Margaret Mackie singing My Way at her care home Christmas earlier this month went viral.
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An elderly woman with dementia has recorded a charity single of Frank Sinatra's My Way in duet with her carer in a Hogmanay No.1 bid.

Margaret Mackie, 83, struggles to remember one day to the next with her condition but managed to hit the notes perfectly on Monday.

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The Linlithgow pensioner became a viral sensation when a video showing her singing the hit in duet with Jamie Lee Morley at the Northcare Suites Care Home Christmas party earlier this month.

Margaret and Jamie in the recording studio. They are aiming for a Hogmanay No.1 with a duet of My Way.Margaret and Jamie in the recording studio. They are aiming for a Hogmanay No.1 with a duet of My Way.
Margaret and Jamie in the recording studio. They are aiming for a Hogmanay No.1 with a duet of My Way.

Following its success, Jamie decided to book a recording date with Ingleston-based Sound Sound, who have already produced the mastered track which will be available to download on all major online platforms including Itunes, Amazon and Spotify. The single will be officially released next week and the official release date will be confirmed shortly.

Speaking to the Evening News, Jamie said that 100 per cent of profits from the track will be split between the Alzheimer's Society and Dementia UK.

He said: "That woman just absolutely melts my heart and I'm bursting with pride. This has all come about from her being such an amazing character.

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"She absolutely loved it. We managed to get the single recorded within one hour. It only took three takes to make it. She has always wanted to do that in a recording studio so it's a dream come true for Margaret.

Maragret in the Sound Sound recording studio on Monday.Maragret in the Sound Sound recording studio on Monday.
Maragret in the Sound Sound recording studio on Monday.

"We are going to try and campaign for a New Year number one. It's a bit late for Christmas No.1. The ultimate achievement would be to get New Year No.1 and we hope we can get everyone in Edinburgh behind it. I would love to raise about £10,000.

"It (the song) will be available worldwide and 100 per cent of the proceeds will go to charity. What we have done is just paid a fee meaning that 100 per cent of the money raised will go straight to the charities."

The new single will be found under Margaret Mackie and Jamie Lee Morley and is a cover of the classic My Way by Frank Sinatra. It will be available on all major music platforms.

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Watch the heartwarming moment elderly woman with dementia at Edinburgh care home...

Christmas video went viral

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Margaret, who has been at the care home since October, delighted staff, residents and family members at her Christmas do on December 4th with Jamie, who said the song was played at his grandfather's funeral last year after he died following a long battle with dementia.

Jamie said he bonded with Margaret over their shared love for music when he noticed her singing along to Elvis on TV in the lounge, not long after she moved to the home.

He said the pair have been singing together "every day" since and that he often play Elvis on Youtube.

He said previously that that music helps take dementia sufferers back in time and brings out the best memories that people can lose along the way.

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Jamie, who lives in Granton, also brought Davidson Main's children's choir up to the home for the Christmas do, with the kids singing and dancing along with the residents.

The 31-year-old, who is originally from Manchester but has lived in Edinburgh for 14 years, has been serving food and drink to residents at the home since it opened in September.

He moved there from his old job as a barista and says he has "found his calling" and "absolutely loves older people."