Ted Williams, the man who has turned from homeless drop-out to golden-voiced megastar overnight, has had an emotional reunion with his 90-year-old mother in New York. He hadn’t seen her for 20 years.
The Man With the Golden Voice
Williams was wandering an Ohio freeway carrying a sign around his neck that read “the God-given gift of a great voice” when he was spotted by a passing motorist who happened to be a Columbus Dispatch reporter. The reporter took a video of him speaking which was posted on YouTube and since then, it's been watched by over 13 million viewers.
Williams told the Columbus Dispatch reporter that he was 14 when he first remembers listening to radio announcers. When he was able to meet some of them, he expressed surprise that they didn’t look like how they sounded. He was told that radio was the “theatre of mind” and realised that this was something he could do – he couldn’t be an actor or TV personality but he knew he had a good voice. Unfortunately, things didn't go well for him and he turned to alcohol and drugs.
Now, though, he has an amazing opportunity to turn around his life. Since the YouTube video, Williams has received numerous job offers, including full time announcer for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has also been offered a house and, of course, there’s the inevitable talk of movie deals.
Ted Williams' Reunion With his Mom
His mom, a very sprightly 90-year-old, was interviewed on the Early Show on January 6, 2011. She was quoted as saying, "God has answered my prayer. I prayed that he could, that I would live to see this time that he would do well … all I would ever hear was bad news ... he looked so bad. He always shut me out. I wanted to live to see him do well".
Then later in the afternoon, her prayers were realised as she met her son in front of several Early Show cameras. It was an extremely emotional moment. Ted walked quickly towards his mom repeating “Hi Mommy, hi mommy,” over and over. He then proudly told her that he been doing a commercial for Kraft.
What Does the Future Hold for Ted Williams?
This overwhelming wave of attention has, of course, extended to Williams' drug and alcohol fuelled past. He has been arrested several times and has been served a prison sentence for theft and forgery. However, he says that he has now been clean for two years. Let’s hope and pray that he really has turned his back on his past and will now make the most of the amazing opportunities that are spread before him. We look forward to hearing his voice and hearing about his clean, settled life.
One thing is for sure. When he finally saw his mother after 20 years, he made his dear old mom a very happy lady.
Sources:
CBS News. "Ted Williams, Homeless Video Star, Offered Jobs." Published January 5, 2011.
CBS News. "Ted Williams' Emotional Reunion With Mother." Published January 6, 2011.
CBS/AP, cbsnews.com. "Ted Williams' Mom: 'Please Don't Disappoint Me'." Published January 6, 2011.
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