After trying his voice at a number of reality shows, a homeless New York man turned to YouTube and has become a viral hit.
James Percell, 49, has been homeless on and off for more than three decades, but has never given up on his dream of becoming a singing sensation, the New York Post reports. After getting rejected from “The Voice” and “X-Factor,” Percell decided to give YouTube a shot.
Since posting his self-composed song, “Everything Must Change,” in April, his video has garnered more than 1 million hits. (SINGING IN VIDEO ABOVE STARTS AT 2:30)
“I live for the music,” the singing hopeful told the Post. “I live on the edge.”
Percell certainly has reason to continue dreaming.
Just last year, Ted Williams was living on the streets of Columbus, Ohio when he was snatched up by major networks for his “golden voice.”
Williams’ life was crippled by a life of drugs and alcohol until the Columbus Dispatch posted a video of the aspiring performer showing off his voiceover skills while begging on the side of a road, according to the AP. The rags-to-riches star has since recorded a commercial for Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, signed on to do work with MSNBC and written a memoir, “The Golden Voice.”
"You always told me to pray, and I've been praying," Williams told his mother after reuniting with her last January. "This has been a dream -- a dream and a prayer."
Click through the slideshow below to find out which states have the highest rates of child homelessness.
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