America's Got Talent is a British owned American reality television series on the NBC television network. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of US$1 million. The show debuted in June 2006 for the summer television season. Starting in the third season, the Talent top prize included US$1 million, payable in a financial annuity over forty years (or the present cash value of such annuity), and a show as the headliner on the Las Vegas Strip.
Recycled Percussion (Goffstown, New Hampshire): Ryan and Justin are not only cousins but also the drummers; James joins them on guitar and DJ Todd rounds out the group that is rightfully called Recycled Percussion. For the past 10 years they have been creating their unique style of music with just about anything they can get their hands on — everyday household objects like ladders, buckets, trashcans and even metal grinders! This high-energy group promises to bring every ounce of rock and roll to the “America’s Got Talent” stage and wants to prove to the world that it doesn’t matter where you come from, it’s more important where you are going. Recycled Percussion is determined to inspire a drug-free youth to tune in and watch the amazing things you can do when you put your mind to it.
Lawrence Beamen (Walnut Creek, California): Lawrence is a native of the Deep South (Mississippi) and his quiet, humble upbringing is a complete contrast to his booming voice and intense passion for music. The remarkable gift grabbed him at the early age of six and it hasn’t let go. His gospel background was strengthened with classical training and his repertoire grew through discipline and commitment. Lawrence’s sound reflects the great voices that have influenced his musical style: the depth of Barry White, the soul of Mahalia Jackson, the honesty of Bill Withers. His talent as well as his humility have earned Lawrence a place on America’s Got Talent and he hopes he’ll continue to impress both the audience and the judges.
Hairo Torres (Grants Pass, Oregon): Hairo Torres is a 23-year-old breakdancer who was born in Southern California and raised in Grants Pass, Oregon. He began his dance journey at 13 and it has helped transform Hairo’s life for the better. Hairo currently works two jobs — as a clerk at a video store and at a distribution plant — but has dreamed of making a living using the love and passion he feels for his craft. Despite the skepticism he has faced from family and friends over the years, Hairo has continued to practice and to perfect his dance moves. Hairo is taking on the “America’s Got Talent” competition in hopes of capturing his dreams, making his family and friends proud, and inspiring anyone who has hopes and dreams of becoming someone special in this world.
Drew Stevyns (Sykesville, Maryland): At age two Drew learned to sing “Happy Birthday” for his dad’s birthday and, at age five, he asked his parents for a keyboard and piano lessons. When he and his family moved to England in 1989 Drew joined the Anglican choir, was a member of the Royal School of Church Music and was enrolled at the Cleeve Comprehensive School in Gloucestershire, where he performed competitively in the annual Cheltenham Arts Festival.
Returning to the U.S., Drew continued his musical development by taking piano lessons, singing in his high school chorus, and teaching himself to play guitar. After graduating high school Drew worked a variety of jobs: fast food, construction, and landscaping, so that he could continue to pursue his dream of music. While locally he has made a name for himself, he is ready to introduce himself to the rest of America. He feels that his time spent with “America’s Got Talent” is “one of the most interesting experiences of my life and winning the competition would be a dream come true!
Barbara Padilla (Houston, Texas): Barbara Padilla was born in Guadalajara, Mexico where she studied music, acting, and dance. While in college, Barbara was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. During this time, Barbara was told that she might never be able to sing again because the radiation could harm her vocal chords. But she would not give up her dream.
After traveling to Houston for a consultation with doctors, Barbara had the chance to audition for the Moore’s School of Music at the University of Houston. She was awarded a full scholarship where she completed the Master’s Degree program, all while battling cancer. She was in treatment for several years and was near death on more than one occasion. Her faith, family and friends helped her through those difficult times.
Barbara is now in remission, living in Texas with her husband and beautiful three-year-old daughter. She feels incredibly blessed to have survived cancer and is ecstatic to be a part of America’s Got Talent.
Texas Tenor (Houston, Texas): In April of 2009, best friends Marcus Collins, JC Fisher, and John Hagen learned that “America’s Got Talent” was coming to Texas for auditions. Though they had moved away from each other because of family obligations, they thought coming out to audition would be the opportunity of a lifetime. With various backgrounds in the performing arts, they decided to combine their individual talents and become The Texas Tenors. Mixing country and classical music with their own Texas Tenor flavor, they auditioned with aspirations of winning over the judges and sharing their fresh new act with all of America. JC, a family man with his Texan wife and two sons, currently lives in Kansas. Born and raised on a cattle ranch, he relies on his family’s strong foundation of hard work and faith to guide his everyday life. John, considered the rock of the group, brings a wealth of classical music training along with his baritone voice. He divides his time in Texas performing, spending time with family, and running a small art gallery in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Marcus adds a contemporary flair to the group with his unique pop voice and boyish charm. Marcus splits his time between Houston and Sun Valley, California, to be close to his mother and grandparents on the West Coast. As the name of the group suggests, performing together on America’s Got Talent affords them the chance to do what they love, and represent their deep-rooted love for the Lone Star State.
Grandma Lee (Jacksonville, Florida): Lee was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma back in 1934. After graduating from Otterbein College in Ohio, she a married a career Marine, Ben Strong, and spent the next 20-plus years raising their four children and traveling around the world. As her kids grew up, Lee worked a series of jobs, including newspaper reporting and as an operator for directory assistance. In May 1995, Lee lost her husband to cancer. To help her cope, Lee began attending a local comedy workshop. Since then she has been making people laugh all around the country. Her goal on “America’s Got Talent” is to help older people realize that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
Kevin Skinner (Orlando, Florida): Kevin Skinner is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Kentucky, where country is a way of life. He picked up the guitar at 12 and has never put it down. Kevin quickly realized that conveying his feelings through his songs was a very special gift. Music is a powerful potion that Kevin loves to share. He said that winning “America’s Got Talent” would be a great gift, but just being a part of the show is something that he will never forget.
Voices of Glory (Highland, New York): The Voices of Glory are a group of siblings whose unique style of singing harmonies makes them stand out. Michael, Avery, and Nadia started singing together in 2007 after their mother, Felicia, was in a head-on car collision with a drunk driver. She was seriously injured and in a coma. They serenaded their mother for months and she eventually came out of the coma and started rehabilitation. This wasn’t the end of the kids’ singing, however. They started traveling to nursing homes and other hospitals in an effort to help other patients. Participating in “America’s Got Talent” is very important to this group because they want to show their family how much they inspire them.
Fab Five (Morgan, Utah): From a dairy farm in rural Utah where life consisted of raising wheat, cows, and family, came five fabulous sisters who could accomplish daily dairy chores in the morning and dance like wildfire at dusk. Nearly three decades of dancing has brought tours, trophies, husbands, and kids. Ultimately, the sisters’ lives have been filled with smiles and tears: their father lost his farm to economic hardships, a child with severe Cerebral Palsy and another with kidney disease, but through it all, family and dancing were there. A win on “America’s Got Talent” would give them the chance to give back to their father and provide significant help for their families. Win or lose, The Fab 5 are forever family strong.
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LOS ANGELES — Jordan Lloyd was served the $500,000 grand prize on "Big Brother 11."
