Welcome to Pure America’s Got Talent

We’ve had a number of VERY lively discussions in the comments of previous posts about the Opera that’s being sung on America’s Got Talent. The most famous one being winner Neal E. Boyd, but also joining the discussion is Donald Braswell and last season’s Barbara Padilla.

The discussion really centers around how good the opera singers are that sing on America’s Got Talent. Many reasonably say that if they had ‘real’ opera talent they’d be singing in other places. The discussion also usually leads to pop opera versus traditional opera.

One of those opera fans pointed out to me that there will be a documentary called “The Audition” on PBS. The movie is about the semi finals and finals of the Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions – the most prestigious professional opera competition in North America. In Northern Westchester, NY (Cablevision) it’ll be on PBS on Jan 20th at 9pm.

Seeing this type of hard core opera competition might be a way for people to become more educated on the quality of the opera singers that are trying out for places like the Met. I’ll be keeping an eye out for this. It won’t have the same entertainment value as something like America’s Got Talent I’m sure, but it will have much more educational value. I’ll be keeping an eye out for it myself.

I just received the official video of Neal E. Boyd singing his latest recording of “God Bless the U.S.A.” Check out the video of Neal below or download it on iTunes .

Also, here’s the full list of songs on his debut album called My American Dream.

My American Dream Album from Neal E. Boyd
God Bless the U.S.A.
God Bless the U.S.A. (Video)
Nessun Dorma
Somewhere
Mama
Amazing Grace
Ave Maria
Bring Him Home
Is Nothing Sacred
Anthem
Il Gladiatore
Sonny Boy

Previous Neal E. Boyd Recording
Turandot: Nessun Dorma

Looks like Neal E. Boyd is trying really hard to make his singing career happen after winning America’s Got Talent. I wish him the very best of luck and hope to see him in Las Vegas at some point soon.

I’ve been able to follow a lot of the past talent of America’s Got Talent. Neal E. Boyd is releasing a single and touring with Paul Potts (Britain’s Got Talent). Queen Emily is in Las Vegas doing Menopause the musical. Donald Braswell has been doing shows, releasing records and even did an appearance on PBS. A little bit surprising to me is that I haven’t heard anything about what’s happened to Eli Mattson. His performance of Walking in Memphis is one of my favorites ever on America’s Got Talent. I found this video from November 25, 2008 of him performing “Walking in Memphis” at the Meyer Theatre:

Does anyone else know what’s going on with Eli Mattson? I’d love to know if he’s releasing an album, if he has any concerts. What he’s doing with his talent.

Also, I think fans of Eli Mattson and Neal E. Boyd will also really enjoy this video of Eli and Neal performing “Candle in the Wind” on July 4, 2008. I have to admit, I think that Eli Mattson actually outperforms Neal on this one. Maybe it was just the song choice. However, I loved the whole thing and it was nice to see them together.

I just got some more information about Neal Boyd going on tour with Paul Potts (Britain’s Got Talent winner). Here’s the list of Neal Boyd tour stops and links to buy tickets on ticketmaster:
July 6th: Grand Prairie (Dallas), TX – Nokia Theatre Buy Tickets on Ticketmaster
July 7th: Houston, TX – Verizon Theater Buy Tickets on Ticketmaster
July 9th: New York, NY – Beacon Theatre Buy Tickets on Ticketmaster
July 10th: Boston, MA – Berklee Performance Center Buy Tickets on Ticketmaster
July 12th: Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall Buy Tickets on Ticketmaster
July 14th: Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live Buy Tickets on Ticketmaster
July 15th: Atlanta, GA – Symphony Hall Buy Tickets on Ticketmaster
July 17th: Atlantic City, NJ – The Borgata Music Box Theater Buy Tickets on Ticketmaster
July 20th: Chicago, IL – Rosemont Theatre Buy Tickets on Ticketmaster
July 21st: Washington, DC – Warner Theatre Buy Tickets on Ticketmaster

Now if he’d only come to Las Vegas so I could go and see him. If you happen to go to one of his shows, I’d welcome a guest post about the experience and any pictures you might have taken.

I also found out that Neal E. Boyd’s debut album “My American Dream” will be coming out June 23rd. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that his album is coming out the day that America’s Got Talent 2009 premieres. I’ll post another update once the album is released and I think we should give away a couple of Neal Boyd’s cd’s along with our Terry Fator Biography and Winston the Turtle giveaways. Watch for those giveaways to start near the beginning of America’s Got Talent 2009.

America’s Got Talent winner Neal E. Boyd has a track from his debut album up on People.com. It’s nice to finally see Neal Boyd getting close to releasing an album. I wonder if it was deliberately delayed until the start of America’s Got Talent 2009. Sounds like a smart plan to me.

My first take of Neal E. Boyd singing “God Bless the USA” is that it was a nice rendition. I have a feeling he’s going to be invited to somewhere nice to sing for fourth of July. I’m sure that many people will wonder why he chose that song, but fans of Neal E. Boyd are going to love it I think. I personally don’t like the orchestration very much, but Neal does a nice job singing it. In fact, I think I like him better on this single than I did on America’s Got Talent.

Also, for those wanting to have Neal E. Boyd’s version of Turandot: Nessun Dorma it’s available on iTunes. It was the best song he performed on America’s Got Talent.

I hope he makes it to Las Vegas at some point. I’d enjoy seeing him live.

I previously posted with the idea of having fans donate to support those contestants on America’s Got Talent to be able to have their family present when they perform in Los Angeles. The best example of this was last year’s winner, Neal Boyd. His mother wanted to attend and didn’t have the money to be able to do so.

For those people who have the means to help, we’d greatly appreciate the donations. To those of you who have already helped, thank you. We’re still a long way from having enough to be able to do what we want, but with everyone’s support we can make a dream come true for a family.

Here’s a button to donate:

It’s really simple. Just click the button. Enter your information and make the donation. If you’d like a link back to your site or something like that on this site, then leave a note on our Contact Pure America’s Got Talent page right after doing the donation and we’ll be happy to link to those people that donate.

America’s Got Talent’s Nuttin’ But Stringz and Neal E. Boyd performed “Dance with My Father Again” at the Las Vegas show. Check out the video of their performance.

Check out the following video of Neal E. Boyd performing the song that won him America’s Got Talent: Nessun Dorma

For a while I’ve been thinking how sad it was that Neal Boyd’s mom couldn’t be in LA to see him win America’s Got Talent. I believe that Nuttin’ But Stringz family couldn’t be there either (I could be wrong on this one). It really makes me sad when people as talented as these 2 aren’t able to share it with their families.

Well, I got the idea that I should leverage the viewers of this site for good when I read that the city of Sikeston, Mo put up his Mother’s plane ticket so that she could see Neal perform.

So, I’m starting the Pure America’s Got Talent fund. Assuming enough people donate, I’ll be using the money raised to pay for a family member of someone on next season’s show to fly out to see them perform live.

Here’s a button to donate:

I’ll be working on putting this in the sidebar of the site and to put up a meter so we can see how many people have donated to the cause. Also, in return for your donation, I’ll be working on a donation page where I can recognize all those who graciously donated.

These are some really nice candid pictures of Neal Boyd and Jessica Price behind the scenes of America’s Got Talent. My favorite picture is the one with Neal Boyd giving Jessica Price a hug.

Enjoy the pictures of Neal Boyd and Jessica Price: