Visitors from all over he world have come to watch a London McDonalds worker sing after he became a TikTok sensation. Richard Walker, 32 or McMC, can cook, sort out unruly customers and sing iconic songs from Bruno Mars to Luther Vandross. This month marks the customer experience leader's tenth anniversary at the Liverpool Street McDonalds. Mr Walker from Streatham, said: "Since a couple of people have shared videos of me on TikTok I seem to have an international audience now which is very strange. "I have had people from Australia come to say hello, and someone from Canada, and I spoke to somebody from Texas just this weekend." The passionate singer and microphone enthusiast started singing in McDonalds five years ago this month. He said: "We at McDonalds hold a charity event for Ronald McDonald's House Charities every year and my business manager's idea was for me to sing because he had heard that I do a bit of singing and guitar playing at church. "I brought my 20 kilo speaker, guitar and keyboard to McDonalds, and that's how it started. "I looked like a regular street busker." He added: "That day people responded the same as they do to this day, with a face that rapidly changes from 'what is he doing' to, 'oh my God he's singing', to 'oh wow he's pretty good'. "I didn't really know how positive it was going to be until days after I first sang live, when people were still talking about it and coming in and saying 'you are the singing guy'. "Then my manager said 'well Richard, you have to do this everyday now'". The McDonalds at Liverpool Street Station is the busiest in the UK, taking the most sales and having the most foot traffic, especially at night when people make their way home after a few after work drinks. Mr Walker said: "Personally singing calms me and the customers and just creates a good vibe. "My McDonalds is the busiest one in the UK so we get some pretty rowdy customers who have had a few drinks, so it can get a little bit tense when there are a lot of people waiting for food. "But in that waiting time I can take the pressure off myself and them a little bit and help them forget about it. "By the time they have sung a little Oasis or Bruno Mars they are cool." He added: "I do have to sing at the right time though, when it is quiet or the food is coming out a little slow, so people say 'this is great' instead of 'why are you not getting my food'." Despite having an extensive repertoire, with Luther Vandross, Bob Marley, and a little Backstreet Boys being among his favourites, currently Elton John holds the top spot. Mr Walker said: "My favourite is Elton John's Your Song. "When I started singing it recently I was surprised to find out that everybody knows this song. It is probably one of the oldest songs in my repertoire. "If Elton John came in I would give him a hug and a Big Mac and we would sing the night away. "He can be an honorary employee." Even without his microphone in hand, Mr Walker is easy to spot in his black and white piano tie that is becoming more iconic every day. He said: "I don't think anyone would recognise me without my tie. "At first I thought, this is going to get dirty as I don't just sing I help with what ever needs doing. But as time has gone on the tie has become a piece of my identity and now I have a wardrobe full of them just in case one gets dirty." He added: "People crave people to stand up and do something different and positive. It's a novelty what I'm doing, it's different, it stands out and I think we need that at a time like this with a lot of uncertainty. "It definitely makes me look forward to coming to work everyday."
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