A 12-year-old street pianist who entranced a crowd of shoppers with a string of 1990s dance anthems has been playing since he was a baby, his father revealed.
Impressive footage of Harrison Crane playing hits like Children by Robert Miles, Eiffel 65’s Blue (Da Ba Dee) and Darude’s Sandstorm on a red Liverpool ONE piano has raked in more than one million views online.
The youngster’s father Jonathan Crane, 40, has told MailOnline Harrison had displayed interest in music since he was very young, saying ‘ever since he was one he used to sit and press the keys’.
School teacher Mr Crane and his wife Eleanor, 39, of Aughton, Lancashire, have been paying for piano lessons for Harrison since he was six years old as his natural aptitude for music was obvious.
Harrison Crane pictured with father Jonathan, mother Eleanor and 10-year-old sister Mia
Mr Crane told MailOnline Harrison, pictured, had displayed interest in music since he was very young, saying ‘ever since he was one he used to sit and press the keys’
Harrison, who has already reached Grade 5 in piano and Grade 4 in drums, ‘seemed to have a bit of a knack for it so we tried to get him lessons,’ Mr Crane said.
He praised the 12-year-old’s ‘brilliant music teachers’ Justine and Chloe, whose teaching style focused on helping Harrison learn songs he wanted to learn himself, rather than forcing him to play through dusty manuscripts by rote.
‘He definitely wants to go into music as a career, even if it’s just a session musician,’ Mr Crane said.
‘I think there’s definitely something to be said for making a living doing something you enjoy.’
In his now-viral street set, Harrison attracts a large crowd of Liverpool ONE shoppers who cheer and burst into applause when he finishes his medley.
Harrison impressed passers-by with a string of 90s dance hits on a red Liverpool ONE piano
As he hammers out the final notes Elton John-style, the large crowd of Liverpool ONE shoppers cheers and bursts into applause
He has been attending a performing arts school for three hours every Saturday since he was four years old, and takes music lessons at the Adam Christopher School Of Musical Excellence in Omrskirk.
‘The good thing about Harrison is he’s chilled, he doesn’t care that he’s all over the internet,’ Mr Crane said.
He added that he and his wife knew Harrison would be a natural performer ever since he was young, due to ability to stay in rhythm while tapping along and dancing to songs.
Harrison attends a performing arts school every Saturday for three hours.
‘He’s done that since he was four,’ Mr Crane said. ‘We could always tell he would be a bit of a performer.’
He also attends music lessons at the Adam Christopher School of Music Excellence in Ormskirk.
During his viral set, uploaded to his YouTube channel Harrison Plays two weeks ago, the pre-teen kicks off with the 1996 dance track Children by Robert Miles, causing a few shoppers to stop to listen and watch.
Harrison Crane (pictured) jumped onto the piano stool with no one around him as he launched into the 1996 dance track Children by Robert Miles, causing shoppers to stop and listen
Harrison then went into Eiffel 65’s song Blue (Da Ba Dee) from 1998, before shifting into 1999’s Sandstorm by Finnish DJ Darude as passersby watched and even filmed him
Young Harrison then slides into Eiffel 65’s song Blue (Da Ba Dee) from 1998, before shifting into 1999’s Sandstorm by Finnish DJ Darude.
By this time, Harrison’s audience has swelled in size, with some watching and tapping their feet while others film him on their phones.
The boy then storms into The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army from 2003, before going back into Children for a grand finale.
As he hammers out the final notes Elton John-style, the large crowd of Liverpool ONE shoppers cheers and bursts into applause.
Harrison then shyly thanks the impromptu audience as he then shuffles towards his parents Jonathan and Eleanor.
He was just one of many local musicians given the opportunity to busk in Liverpool ONE’s Tickle The Ivories festival last summer.
As he hammered out the final notes, the large crowd of Liverpool ONE shoppers cheered and burst into applause. Harrison, of Aughton, Lancashire, shyly thanked the impromptu audience as he then shuffled towards his parents Jonathan, 40, and Eleanor, 39
Harrison’s September public performance was not his first, though, having played at the shopping centre up to a dozen times times since 2018.
Six months ago, his father Jonathan uploaded a video to his YouTube account showing Harrison bashing out a similar medley for passersby.
Last month, a video was uploaded that showcased Harrison playing keyboards with a young band in a cover of The Killers’ Mr Brightside.
And in 2017, Harrison took to a public piano in Manchester Airport, where he entranced travellers with his rendition of I Giorni by Ludovico Einaudi.