If you haven’t seen this video yet, you are in for a real treat. A homeless man has been panhandling on the streets of Ohio with a sign that says he has the “God-given gift of a great voice.” It’s true, his voice is AMAZING and so inspirational for anybody whose been down on his or her luck and lost hope.
The homeless man, whose name is Ted Williams tells us that he once worked in radio, but due to alcohol and drugs, his life went downhill. Despite his difficulties, he never gave up hope and thanked goodness everyday. He’s been sober for two years now and all he would like is to earn enough money to eat regular meals, have a place to call his own, and find a steady job again. Oh yes, he also prayed everyday that he could one day see his 92 year old mother in Brooklyn and show her that he was alright and that he had made it.
Well Ted, you have made it alright and the entire world is rooting for you! Your kindness after the man gave you the $1 was so sincere. I watched this video 7X after everybody had left from work and began to cry. Your humility and spirit is such an inspiration! If you are out there and happen to stumble across this site, I will happily send you a check for $500 to help support whatever you need. Perhaps you’d be free to do a short interview as well!
“Radio is defined, theater of mind.”Wait till you hear his voice in the end. You will be moved to love your parents and inspire you to do more.
BEAUTIFUL SPEECH CAN BE LEARNED
What we learn from watching the first video is that Ted actually went to school to develop his radio voice. Here are some tips to improve your speaking voice from a communications class I took in graduate school:
* Speak in a deeper voice. If you’ve ever wondered why anchorwomen and sportscasters tend to speak in such low voices, it’s simply because low voices sound more authoritative and soothing. Think about the difference between the comfortable sound of a Labrador’s deep *woof*, and a high pitched sound of a Chihuahua’s *yap*. You probably don’t want to sound like Mike Tyson or Fran from The Nanny either.
* Articulate. Try exaggerating your lip movement to reduce mumbling. Practice articulating tongue twisters and extending and exaggerating vowel sounds. Also, think about how words are spoken in a proper British accent. The reason why a British accent sounds so sophisticated is because of the crisp enunciation. For a hybrid, think about Dr. Fraser Crane in the hit sitcom Fraser. What a strange, but highly educated sounding voice he has.
* Loosen up and slow down. When people get nervous, not only do their voices start going higher, their voices also start speeding up. It’s important to be fully cognizant of the moment by breathing through your diaphram and speak each word with purpose. Use pauses and different pitches to keep your voice interesting.
* Record yourself speaking. The way you sound is different from how others hear you. It’s important to record yourself speaking to understand what parts you can improve on. You can do trial and error by testing out various speeds and pitches to find one that’s most suitable.
* Don’t forget to breathe. Everything you do comes from your core. If you forget to breathe, your voice falls apart. Be mindful of your breath all the time.
Thank you Ted again for your inspiration!
Readers, have you ever wondered about the importance of your speaking voice? Do you have any tips to share with others on how to give good interviews and speak with more butter?
Best,
Sam
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Thanks for sharing this inspirational story Sam. I had heard rumbling about this recently but never really looked into it until I read this article. I took the time to watch both videos and it’s great to see such a wonderful transformation for this man. It gives us all hope and was a great way to start my day!
OK. This is probably going to make a lot of people hate me but here goes.
I think it’s wonderful that Ted is back on track. What’s most impressive to me is that he has 2 years clean and sober. I don’ t know this man and I haven’t walked a mile in his shoes.
My only hope is that he didn’t wait for this to happen to start living again. In other words, I have lots of admiration for talent. I have much more respect for people without talent who make life happen.
Who hates me?
He went out on the streets and showed his creativity. He said he earned 25cents an hour or $25 an hour, which at that point is pretty darn good. Better than just begging with nothing in return. I’m not sure how rocking the economy is in Columbus, Ohio…. but I can’t believe it’s one of the hotter economies in America.
I feel the same way Neal; while he was asking for “handouts” per say, (that is what panhandling is all about isn’t it?) he was also trying to put himself in the view of someone that may need his talent. He was setting himself up for success, knew he had a talent others may need and showcased that talent when possible. It’s a great story and I can’t help but love the guy, it must be that charismatic voice…
Love this guy!
great inspiring story. i hope he does well in whatever opportunity is provided to him.
I saw this story today, Sam. I’m glad to see he’s recovering and has been able to stay clean. It’s encouraging that people are giving him a second chance. I was really encouraged to hear Ted talking about how God has made the difference in his life when he was on The Today Show.
It also made me want to improve my voice. Thanks for the tips! I want to look up more information about how to train your voice. It’d be great to be able to speak like him. :)
I don’t hate you Neal I think you make an excellent point! Talent is one thing but talent and hard work is a whole other.
This story has been all over the news the last few days. A great story indeed. I hope Ted stays on the right path in what ever he does.
This is such a great story – It’s a reminder that no matter if you mess up or not, if you keep your skills sharp, you can get back on track.
I’m happy for Ted. He went out and used his talent to take back what he lost. Stay clean and sober Ted!
If anyone wants to speak better, you should join Toastmasters to practice and get a lot of supports. :)
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jaime Tardy. Jaime Tardy said: RT @financialsamura: The Golden Voice Homeless Man Who Never Lost Hope | #Yakezie http://t.co/WIfTHTS –> Includes tips on how to imp … […]
Sometimes people lose faith and end up down on their luck. I’m glad that Ted eventually got back on the right track. I wish him luck in the future!
I am always rooting for someone that has a problem, takes steps to correct the problem, and do whatever it takes to get him or herself back on his/her own two feet. Sure, he relied on the kindness of strangers, but he also provided brief entertainment in return. That’s an even exchange.
I’ve taken 3 public speaking classes to improve my speech and diction. I’ve also worked as a telemarketer previously. Let me tell you, a kind voice and decent pronunciation will get you very far.
I’m glad he’s been sober for 2 years. I was worried that all his fame would lead to a relapse. Whew, now I can relax a bit. Love the tips! I’m going to try them.
I have always believed in second chances. It takes real courage to make big change in your life and stick with it, especially when others don’t believe you can do it. I am very happy for Ted and I wish him the best of luck.
I saw that video yesterday, so touching. His voice is surreal! It’s amazing how people can come together and help someone in need. I’m so glad he got to reconnect with his mother too.
I think his story is inspirational as to how a person’s life can change so rapidly for the good.
[…] * Video blogging backfires. We’re used to seeing professional actors, announcers, and newscasters perform on TV. Hence, unless we are incredibly attractive and talented, the audience will find the video too boring, and too slow and switch off. We’d like to think we are sexy good presenters, but the reality of it is, we aren’t. But then again, if you are, you are going to milk your looks as much as possible in your Twitter, Facebook, and blog profiles and it works! Focus on podcasts and work on your speaking voice. […]
You almost posted this on your site, didn’t you? I also believe in second chances, and I’m glad that this man was able to see his mother again. I’m happy that he found peace and joy in his life.
Inspiring story. Yes anyone deserves a second chance. I have volunteered with he homeless before and it’s not as simple as “people being lazy”. Some people just get caught in an unfortunate downward spiral.
Thanks for the tips on improving speaking voice. I gotta try that!
Misfortune hits many people and Ted was one of those. A lot of people spend a lot of time saying” just sort yourself” out and such things but people who don’t have huge problems are always the ones who say such things.
Ted is battling with the demons of addiction, we can debate if he should have got addicted or not but the fact is he did and that can’t be changed.
I don’t think the poor fella will stay clean through this little wave but he has a great talent and a strong spirit and hopefully with ongoing interest in his story and help he can keep plowing through and prosper until sobriety becomes normal to him.
I loved his voice, I loved his interviews and I love the figure he has become. Hopefully this will inspire many people at rock bottom to just try that little bit harder.
[…] The Golden Voice Homeless Man Who Never Lost Hope (Yakezie) […]
I really don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade, and I hate to be the dark cloud here, but this guy is a criminal. And I’m not just talking about the alcohol addiction. His rap sheet includes theft, robbery, forgery, and possession. You can see a portrait of all his mugshots here http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrity/meet-felon-golden-voice. I’m all about second chances, but this guys had serious problems for years. Does he really deserve all this love and support?
He also left rehab after two weeks:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2011/01/ted-williams-leaves-rehab-homeless-man-golden-voice-dr-phil.html