Photos: Bruce Gilbert will perform until he can't

Things to Do

Photos: Bruce Gilbert will perform until he can't

Photos: Bruce Gilbert will perform until he can't

Atlanta singer/songwriter Bruce Gilbert, who struggles to continue to perform as his Parkinson's worsens, plays in the lobby of the Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. Winship helped save Gilbert's wife from cancer, so he plays the piano in the lobby as a thank you to the center. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Atlanta singer/songwriter Bruce Gilbert, who struggles to continue to perform as his Parkinson's worsens, plays in the lobby of the Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. Winship helped save Gilbert's wife from cancer, so he plays the piano in the lobby as a thank you to the center. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Emory Healthcare employee Lisa Kappel takes in the sounds of Atlanta singer/songwriter Bruce Gilbert, Atlanta singer/songwriter Bruce Gilbert, who plays in the lobby of the Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. Winship helped save Gilbert's wife from cancer, so he plays the piano in the lobby as a thank you to the center. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Atlanta singer/songwriter Bruce Gilbert, who struggles to continue to perform as his Parkinson's worsens, plays in the lobby of the Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. Winship helped save Gilbert's wife from cancer, so he plays the piano in the lobby as a thank you to the center. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

After playing the piano for an hour in the lobby of the Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, singer/songwriter Bruce Gilbert finds a quiet place to take a break before playing another 20-minute piano set. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Atlanta singer/songwriter Bruce Gilbert, who struggles to continue to perform as his Parkinson's worsens, plays in the lobby of the Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. Winship helped save Gilbert's wife from cancer, so he plays the piano in the lobby as a thank you to the center. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Atlanta singer/songwriter Bruce Gilbert, who is struggling to keep performing as his Parkinson's Disease worsens, gathers his thoughts as he prepares to sit down to play the piano in the lobby of the Winship Cancer Institute on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, in Atlanta. Winship helped save Gilbert's wife from cancer so he plays the piano in the lobby as a thank you to the center. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Bruce Gilbert holds a rehearsal with musical friends Jerry Brunner (from left), Cyndi Craven, Towanna Stone, William Bess, and J.C. Goolsby at his home on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2014, in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Bruce Gilbert (from left), supporting himself on a chair, gets a hug from William Bess while Jerry Brunner hugs J.C. Goolsby after a rehearsal at Gilbert's Atlanta home on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2014. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Bruce Gilbert arrives for his performance at The Hungry Ear Coffee House in Sandy Springs on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, in Sandy Springs. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Bruce Gilbert does a sound check before his performance at The Hungry Ear Coffee House in Sandy Springs on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

After setting up musical gear for his show, Bruce Gilbert rests and gathers his strength in the green room backstage before performing at The Hungry Ear Coffee House in Sandy Springs on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Bruce Gilbert performs at The Hungry Ear Coffee House in Sandy Springs on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Bruce Gilbert performs at The Hungry Ear Coffee House in Sandy Springs on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Bruce Gilbert and friends perform at The Hungry Ear Coffee House in Sandy Springs on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

A new fan snaps a photo of Bruce Gilbert and fellow performers after their show at The Hungry Ear Coffee House in Sandy Springs on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. Gilbert is struggling to continue performing as his Parkinson's worsens. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

After performing and signing autographs following his show, an exhausted Bruce Gilbert rests in the arms of his wife Lex at The Hungry Ear Coffee House in Sandy Springs on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Bruce Gilbert returns home after pushing himself through a wall of fatigue the morning after his concert at The Hungry Ear and takes a brief walk with his wife Lex and their dog Frizzle near their home on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 2, 2014, in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Bruce Gilbert returns home after pushing himself through a wall of fatigue the morning after his concert at The Hungry Ear and takes a brief walk with his wife Lex and their dog Frizzle near their home on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 2, 2014, in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Bruce Gilbert always has his wife Lex help him begin the new week by separating his multiple medications into containers for each day of the week at their family home on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 2, 2014, in Atlanta. Gilbert says it takes the two of them to be sure they get the medications and doses right. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Bruce Gilbert always has his wife Lex help him begin the new week by separating his multiple medications into containers for each day of the week at their family home on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 2, 2014, in Atlanta. Gilbert says it takes the two of them to be sure they get the medications and doses right. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Bruce Gilbert always has his wife Lex help him begin the new week by separating his multiple medications into containers for each day of the week at their family home on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 2, 2014, in Atlanta. Gilbert says it takes the two of them to be sure they get the medications and doses right. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Bruce Gilbert supports himself by bracing himself between the kitchen island and refrigerator between doses of his medications for Parkinson's at his home in Atlanta on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014, in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Bruce Gilbert, who can only sleep about four hours a night, lays on his bed with his dog Frizzle before taking his medication Nov. 3, 2014, in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

After taking his first dose of medications for the day at 6 a.m., Bruce Gilbert does some limited physical therapy exercises in his living room that help alleviate some of his pain on Monday, Nov. 3, 2014, in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

1/25

Atlanta singer/songwriter Bruce Gilbert, who struggles to continue to perform as his Parkinson's worsens, plays in the lobby of the Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. Winship helped save Gilbert's wife from cancer, so he plays the piano in the lobby as a thank you to the center. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Today's Gallery Headlines

Georgia students organize protests against ICE after Minnesota killings

PHOTOS: Snellville's Brookwood High School students rally and march against ICE

Ice storm warning

PHOTOS: Scenes from icy winter storm in Metro Atlanta

As storm inches closer to Georgia, metro Atlanta braces for ice threat

PHOTOS: Georgia readies for incoming ice storm

01202026 day of protests

PHOTOS: Metro Atlanta ICE protest join national effort

More Galleries

the weeknd

PHOTOS: The Weeknd electrifies the crowd at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz stadium

PHOTOS: Beyonce fans saddle up for 4-day Atlanta Cowboy Carter Tour stop

PHOTOS: Beyoncé fans arrive for 4-night Atlanta Cowboy Carter Tour stop

College Park Juneteenth Parade standalone photo

PHOTOS: Juneteenth Parade held in College Park

4th Annual Rick Ross Car Show

PHOTOS: Rapper Rick Ross holds 4th annual car show in Fayetteville