Richard Goodall just won the latest season of America's Got Talent. He called into the Bobby Bones Show to talk about his win and all the steps getting to that moment.
Goodall works as a custodian and he's been singing to his kids at school for years, but he never dreamed that he would be singing to people and bringing them together with his singing. From about 6a to 7a the school belongs to Goodall. He would be belting out songs every morning, not thinking anything of it. First it was God Bless The USA, then it was Don't Stop Believin'. One of the individuals at his school took a video of him singing one day and it went viral. Ever since that video, he's had people in town wanting him to be the lead singer of their bands. He did find a good band to be part of, but then he got on America's Got Talent and things took off for him solo. Before this, he would do karaoke contests, and was even in a gospel trio for about 8 years.
He never planned to do something like America's Got Talent, but his wife and the kids at his school encouraged him to compete. When they sent him the plane ticket, Goodall's wife told him he had to go. Walking out on the stage, Goodall felt physically ill especially whenever he was talking to the judges. However as soon as the music started to play, he was comfortable. He knows he can do anything with music, but the pre and post moments of the performances always made him the most nervous. When he watches the video back of his winning performance, Goodall says it makes him have "chicken skin." He doesn't think he's capable of all that stuff, but seeing himself do it feels like watching himself in 3rd person.
Since America's Got Talent finished, Goodall is still working as a custodian. He's run out of sick days and days off, but he wants to keep working there until he cant. Whenever he does take off from his custodian jobs, he's making money doing the shows and on a more grand scale with a Vegas band. He's also started touring the schools in town and the kids have memorized "Don't Stop Believin'" to sing with him, which he thinks it's amazing.
Goodall would tell anyone that they should try out for the show because there is no better time than now. He believes if someone regular like him who works as a janitor can audition and win, then anyone can. He was as raw as one could be, still is, and he did it. For more information on Goodall visiting singingjanitor.com and if you'd like to audition for America's Got Talent go to AGTauditions.com.