Thanks to the internet,' The Voice' isn't homeless anymore

[Pred]

This is an amazing story of the man with the Golden Voice (http://stardom.co.uk/homeless-man-the-golden-voice-for-radio-found-online/)

[andymoore]

That is awesome, I've always loved the term 'theatre of the mind' and that guys voice is amazing.

What a really nice feel good story!

:)

[ChinaMobi]

When things are genuine, honest and incredible, things become successful. As the online sensation of Susan Boyle proved. I like it. Thanks. Very heart warming. Rep+

[Pred]

the original video has gone up from 4.5 million views to 5.3 million, in an hour!

i have watched it three times
it really is a wonderful story

[blitzpotz]

Wow, very impressing. Is this the American dream? German children are (were?!) told that the "Dishwasher to Millionaire" thing is only possible in the US. Go go go, Golden Voice!

And, not less impressing: The Predmeister does have a sensitive, romantic, altruistic nature, doesn´t he?

[morse]

Will second everything that blitzpotz said. That mans voice is just great !! Given that a former radio presenter himself is endowing laurels upon that man, speaks volumes about the voice. Thanks for sharing, its very inspiring.

[gogo]

Is this the American dream? German children are (were?!) told that the "Dishwasher to Millionaire" thing is only possible in the US.


So is the lack of healthcare.

American nightmare would be a more appropriate term - an example of what to avoid. Many countries now consciously choose what is called the Chinese Model of development, where free market extremism is avoided.

Utter BS if German children were told what you say. Social mobility is low in the United States.

Like they say, capitalism gives rich and poor alike the right to sleep under bridges.

[blitzpotz]

Utter BS if German children were told what you say.I refered to the decades after WWII when (Western) Germany imported US American culture from its saviour. The USA have been our ideal model of freedom.

Later, in the 90s, we also adopted the prototype of a free capitalism created under Thatcher and Reagan. We all know the results the beast created. Plus, in the last ten years the German social system, buit up with reference to Sweden in the 60s/70s, has been weakened by politics with economic arguments (e.g., simplified: "Why should a person who doesn´t work receive federal money?") . The gap between poor and rich is steadily growing, the middle class is breaking away, we see massive transfers from bottom and middle to the upper class. Our former loyal society flatters egoism, greed and blatancy today. We might even have our own Madoff since yesterday, see German news here (http://sueddeutsche.de/geld/bayernlb-ex-risikovorstand-gribkowsky-verhaftet-1.1043070).

Hence nothing to glorify by me. Just a great story, the Golden Voice!

[blitzpotz]

Pred´s Golden Voice has a new job, see article (http://adage.com/article?article_id=148028)


CHICAGO (AdAge.com) -- The new voice of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese is a homeless man and former drug addict.
Ted Williams, the Columbus, Ohio, panhandler who has become an overnight sensation ever since a local newspaper posted video of him (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTysXITBCmk&feature=related) showing off his golden pipes Monday, will lend his voice to a new ad for the brand that will debut Sunday, Kraft Foods told Ad Age.
"Like many others, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and our ad agency was moved by Ted Williams' story," Kraft spokeswoman Lynne Galia said in an email. "His amazing voice is perfectly suited to our campaign. We were in the middle of making our TV spots and in a unique position to help Ted use his great voice to gain employment." Mr. Williams foreshadowed his new gig during an appearance today on the "Today" show, saying he was on his way to record the ad right after the live interview.
Asked how he would make the pitch, he said, "When you're looking for a cheesy product, a very delicious macaroni and cheese, choose Kraft."
The ad, by Mac & Cheese roster agency Crispin, Porter & Bogusky, will debut on ESPN Sunday night during the telecast of the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco.
Mr. Williams, a Brooklyn native who once had a career in radio, has reportedly gotten a slew of interest, including from MTV, ESPN and the National Football League. He told a Cleveland TV station that he plans to take a job with the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.
"That lady offered me a full-time job with the Cavs and then something about the mortgage of a home? I'm going with that! Out of all the offers that I've had, and I've had quite a few, I'll be working in Cleveland, Ohio," Mr. Williams told the station, Fox 8.
A Columbus Dispatch videographer discovered Williams on a highway exit ramp last month and shot a video of him showcasing his "God-given gift of voice," the paper reported. The clip was uploaded to the paper's website Monday and then posted on YouTube, where, as of this morning, it had more than 11 million views.
Mr. Williams' most recent job was doing voiceovers for a Columbus FM radio station and was laid off in 1997 when the station was acquired by another station, the Dispatch reported. But his life had started to spin out of control years earlier. He served three months in prison for theft in 1990 and another two months in 2004 on charges including theft and forgery, the Dispatch reported.
Mr. Williams told "Today" that he lost his home in 1993 when he was doing cocaine and "drinking like a fifth a day."
"My life just went to the pits," said Mr. Williams, who added he is now sober.
Despite his checkered past -- and even if he were to get in trouble again -- Kraft faces little risk in using him because everybody loves a redemption story, said Carol Phillips, a branding expert and president of Brand Amplitude.
"It's like practically free publicity," she said. "It's showing that they are in the pop culture and responding. I think there's a lot more upside than downside."