Brad Kella launches album on Lennon piano at The Beatles Story

Liverpool piano genius Brad Kella has launched his debut album by playing tracks from it on a rare John Lennon piano.

The upright instrument – which is part of The Beatles Story exhibition - was the last piano the former Beatle owned, and he played it in the recording studio on December 8, 1980, hours before he was murdered in New York.

Kella joked that he “didn’t want to break it” as he became the first person in 30 years to sit at the keyboard, entertaining a sell-out audience at The Beatles Story to promote Phoebe’s Melody - the title of the record a nod to his two young daughters.

He told his audience: “This is the last instrument John ever touched in his life. For me it’s a massive privilege to sit there and touch those keys. To say I’ve played John Lennon’s piano, as a pianist from Liverpool, there’s no better feeling. It’s a dream – the icing on the cake.”

Meanwhile he was also joined by Liverpool singer-songwriter Jamie Webster for a special performance of Lennon’s Imagine.

In a lively Q&A with broadcaster Claire Simmo, Kella talked about his life and the impact winning Channel 4’s The Piano had had on him and his family.

Above: Brad Kella was joined by Liverpool singer-songwriter Jamie Webster for Imagine. Top: Kella plays John Lennon's last piano at The Beatles Story.

The former Fazakerley High School student stunned TV viewers along with crowds at Lime Street Station when he sat down at the piano to play his own composition, going on to be chosen to play in the grand final concert of gifted amateurs from across the country and where he premiered another of his works Eve and Frank, named in honour of his foster parents who bought him his first keyboard as a 14-year-old.

Since winning the series, the self-taught young virtuoso, who can’t read music and plays by ear and ‘muscle memory’, has gone on to visit the trophy room at his beloved Anfield, sell out Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, perform at the Royal Albert Hall and appear in the John Lewis Christmas advertisement.

Meanwhile fans of Kella will also be able to catch him on stage in the city next month when he appears at the Empire, supporting Gary Barlow on his UK tour.

Phoebe’s Melody has been recorded on Liverpool’s Modern Sky record label and its tracks chart Kella’s life story so far.

Above: Birthday boys - Kella and twin Aron at The Beatles Story.

The dad-of-two played several pieces from the album at The Beatles Story, both on Lennon’s original piano and a second instrument, including Journey’s End, New Beginnings and the final track Triumph which he described as being “about how it made me feel knowing I had made the album.”

He also showed the audience at the intimate event how he composes, creating and augmenting a new melody as they watched, and spoke of his ambitions to become a leading composer of film music.

Kella’s partner Abbie and his twin brother Aron were among those at the event at The Beatles Story, which also took place on the brothers’ 24th birthday, the celebrations including a cake and a rousing Happy Birthday.

Phoebe’s Melody is due for release on June 6 and is now available to pre-order online. Kella will appear in support of Gary Barlow at the Liverpool Empire on April 28-29.