A man who suffered concussion after diving into a shallow pool has made a seemingly improbable discovery: it made him a musical genius.

Derek Amato, from Denver, Colorado, is just one of 30 people in the entire world suffering from Acquired Savant Syndrome, where people display profound abilities after suffering head trauma.

After years of failed jobs and homelessness, the 40-year-old is now enjoying a career in music and can play eight instruments - despite never having a lesson in his life.

He has now recounted the startling moment he felt drawn to a friend's piano after the October 2006 accident and immediately began playing.

'It was one of those moments when you just knew,' he told Matt Lauer on the Today show. 'It was just drawing me to it.'

Amato, who can not read music, explained that he knew what to play as he could see black and white squares in his head that triggered his fingers to move.