Life is full of surprises, and for David Tolley, one unexpected moment changed the course of his life, when on the night of December 19, 1985, he was a member of the studio audience for The Tonight Show, hosted by Johnny Carson, when he experienced the unexpected. A classical pianist named Horatio Gutierrez, who was scheduled to be a guest on Carson’s show, was unable to perform because he had injured his hand and would not be able to perform. Without missing a beat, Carson asked if anyone in the audience could play the piano.

The piano player, who has been playing since he was a child, immediately volunteered to participate, taking to the stage and performing the song “Memory” from the popular musical Cats. As a result of the impromptu performance, he received a standing ovation from the audience and gained a new level of recognition from the peers.

Tolley’s phone started ringing off the hook the day after the show, and it continued to ring all day long. As a result of a chance encounter on a late night talk show, he received calls from people offering him jobs on cruise ships, roles in movies, and more. His life had been forever changed as a result of that chance encounter. It is important to note that this story of Tolley’s unexpected success serves as a reminder that we never know what opportunities or challenges might come our way in life, and that when they do, it’s important to be prepared to take advantage of them when they do.