Man plays piano in wreckage of Kentucky tornado, video shows. ‘Most beautiful sound’
His home destroyed in last weekend’s series of tornadoes in Western Kentucky, Jordan Baize took a moment Dec. 11 to show his gratefulness.
The roof of his home was torn apart as the wreckage from the tornado filled each room. But the cleaning efforts could wait for Baize, who lives in the small town of Bremen, where 12 people were killed in the tornado.
Instead, Baize took comfort in his grand piano and his faith. Video captured by Baize’s sister, Whitney Brown, shows the man playing the gospel hymn “There’s Something About That Name” in the corner of his living room, not realizing he was being watched.
“I was standing in his bedroom packing anything I could salvage and I heard the most beautiful sound. Music,” Brown said.
“Everything around him was broken,” she continued. “The piano had water damage, it had missing keys, and he didn’t know I was filming, but still he used his gift to glorify his God the best way he knew how. Enjoy his God given gift.”
Bremen, a coal mining community nestled in Muhlenberg County, was among the hardest-hit towns during last weekend’s tornadoes. Seventy-four people are confirmed dead throughout Western Kentucky, including in the towns of Mayfield, Dawson Springs and Bowling Green.
The death toll from the devastating series of tornadoes is expected to reach 100, as 109 people remained unaccounted for Monday, Dec. 13, Gov. Andy Beshear said.
With a population of 292, the Bremen community saw 4% of its residents killed in the tornado. Brown said in her post she and her family were all safe.
“My house is destroyed, but I have some friends and neighbors in our little town of Bremen whose homes are missing, so when you really count the cost, I have nothing to complain about,” Baize told ABC News. “Especially when you consider that I think our number is up to 12 lives lost, just in our little community. Just 12 too many. So yes, it’s been a wild few days. But we still have so much to be thankful for.”
His piano playing has inspired many as Western Kentucky looks to rebuild its communities. More than 15,000 people have shared the video on Facebook, with some commenting and messaging Baize that the video has helped them get through dark times of their own.
He told LEX 18 his piano has always been special to him, and he wanted to play it before it suffered more damage.
“Music has always been important to me. Specifically church music, Christian music,” Baize added to WFIE. “My faith is a huge factor in my life but I am glad to know I guess that if it’s bringing peace and comfort and some sense of calm in an otherwise stormy time, then I am good with that.”
This story was originally published December 14, 2021 at 1:11 PM.