Moving boxes—and hearts

Forget all the research about music therapy. Everything you need to know about the power of music can be seen in this video—and the story behind it.

Crooner AJ Carter-Johnson, who works for College Hunks Hauling and Moving, finished a moving job at a St. Louis-area retirement community. He was waiting for his co-worker, Troy, to get papers signed.

The baby grand in the middle of the room beckoned. Carter-Johnson began to play, and one resident followed the music.

"[Troy] saw the woman listening, so he pulled up a chair for her," Carter-Johnson says to The Huffington Post. "What caught her attention was I was playing 'Hallelujah.' She walked over and said 'That’s one of my favorite songs,' and asked if I could sing."

Carter-Johnson, a senior at Missouri Baptist University, obliged. He also sang John Legend’s "Ordinary People" while Troy recorded. The video was posted on the moving company’s Facebook page and has been viewed nearly 110,000 times and shared by more than 500 people.

"I’m just extremely humbled that people think I’m talented, and I’m bless to be a blessing to that lady," he says, adding the woman’s late husband used to play for her. "I guess it took her back."

And, if the music couldn’t get any sweeter, read some of the Facebook comments.

Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.