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==Biography==
==Biography==
Raised in [[Brooklyn, New York]], Williams has nine children, seven girls and two boys. Williams served three years for the [[United States Army]] and attended school for voice acting.<ref>WNCI 97.9 Radio Interview</ref> His inspiration to become a radio announcer came from a field trip at age 14, when he found that a radio announcer who he had heard looked nothing like he had imagined. Williams had experience as a radio disc jockey before. He worked some overnight shifts for [[WVKO (AM)]] in Columbus when the station played [[soul music]].<ref>{{cite web |title=
Raised in [[Brooklyn, New York]], Williams has nine children, seven girls and two boys. Williams served three years for the [[United States Army]] and attended school for voice acting.<ref>WNCI 97.9 Radio Interview</ref> His inspiration to become a radio announcer came from a field trip at age 14, when he found that a radio announcer who he had heard looked nothing like he had imagined. Williams had experience as a radio disc jockey before. He worked some overnight shifts for [[WVKO (AM)]] in Columbus when the station played [[soul music]].<ref>{{cite web |title=
Ohio Homeless Man Earns Second Chance With 'Golden Radio Voice' |url=http://www.rtdna.org/pages/posts/ohio-homeless-man-earns-second-chance-with-golden-radio-voice1193.php |publisher=Radio Television Digital News Association |date=Jan 05 2011 |quote=Williams had previously worked overnight shifts at WVKO (1580 AM), a former Columbus soul music station which now offers Catholic programming, according to Mail Online. |accessdate=2011-01-05}}</ref> However, Williams stated that around 1996, cocaine, crack<ref>[http://www.hulu.com/watch/204979/nbc-today-show-homeless-man-with-golden-voice-‘thankful-to-be-here]</ref> and alcohol abuse complicated his career leading to his then-current state of homelessness.<Ref name="1996-source1">(6 January 2011). [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/jan/06/ted-williams-ohio-homeless-radio Ted Williams, homeless former radio announcer, handed NBA role], ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref> He has currently been clean and [[sober]] for two and a half years.
Ohio Homeless Man Earns Second Chance With 'Golden Radio Voice' |url=http://www.rtdna.org/pages/posts/ohio-homeless-man-earns-second-chance-with-golden-radio-voice1193.php |publisher=Radio Television Digital News Association |date=Jan 05 2011 |quote=Williams had previously worked overnight shifts at WVKO (1580 AM), a former Columbus soul music station which now offers Catholic programming, according to Mail Online. |accessdate=2011-01-05}}</ref> However, Williams stated that around 1996, cocaine, crack<ref>[http://www.hulu.com/watch/204979/nbc-today-show-homeless-man-with-golden-voice-‘thankful-to-be-here]</ref> and alcohol abuse complicated his career leading to his then-current state of homelessness.<Ref name="1996-source1">(6 January 2011). [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/jan/06/ted-williams-ohio-homeless-radio Ted Williams, homeless former radio announcer, handed NBA role], ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref> He says he 's been clean and sober since mid-2008.


A video was recorded in [[Columbus, Ohio]] at the Hudson Street [[off-ramp]] of [[Interstate 71]] ({{Coord|40.015063|-82.994941|display=inline}}), and posted at the [[Columbus Dispatch]]'s website on January 3, 2011. It was recorded by [[Doral Chenoweth]], a videographer for the paper.<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/01/04/2011-01-04_homeless_man_ted_williams_becomes_viral_video_star_in_quest_to_be_radio_announce.html]</ref><ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/trending-tech/homeless-man-with-voice-of-gold-has-chance-at-redemption/article1857936/]</ref> It was reposted to [[YouTube]] by an anonymous user, and within one day it had been viewed millions of times.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTysXITBCmk]. Removed since.</ref> Williams' story also garnered a large following on the social news website [[Reddit]], with many users pledging donations of money, clothes, and job offers.<ref>[http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/evz04/homeless_man_wgolden_radio_voice_in_columbus_oh/]</ref> On January 5, 2011, Williams appeared on the "Dave and Jimmy Show" on [[WNCI]] and was interviewed (since clean shaven and hair cut) by ''[[The Early Show]]'' on [[CBS]].<Ref name="cbs5">Doane, Seth (5 January 2011). [http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500803_162-20027506-500803.html A Day with Golden Voiced Ted Williams], ''[[CBS News]]''</ref> He was interviewed on ''[[The Today Show]]'', January 6, doing the lead-in voice over.<ref>Andre Mayer, "[http://www.cbc.ca/arts/media/blogs/popculture/2011/01/ted-williams-voices-opening-to-today-show.html Ted Williams voices opening to Today Show]", ''CBC.ca'', January 6, 2011.</ref>
A video was recorded in [[Columbus, Ohio]] at the Hudson Street [[off-ramp]] of [[Interstate 71]] ({{Coord|40.015063|-82.994941|display=inline}}), and posted at the [[Columbus Dispatch]]'s website on January 3, 2011. It was recorded by [[Doral Chenoweth]], a videographer for the paper.<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/01/04/2011-01-04_homeless_man_ted_williams_becomes_viral_video_star_in_quest_to_be_radio_announce.html]</ref><ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/trending-tech/homeless-man-with-voice-of-gold-has-chance-at-redemption/article1857936/]</ref> It was reposted to [[YouTube]] by an anonymous user, and within one day it had been viewed millions of times.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTysXITBCmk]. Removed since.</ref> Williams' story also garnered a large following on the social news website [[Reddit]], with many users pledging donations of money, clothes, and job offers.<ref>[http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/evz04/homeless_man_wgolden_radio_voice_in_columbus_oh/]</ref> On January 5, 2011, Williams appeared on the "Dave and Jimmy Show" on [[WNCI]] and was interviewed (since clean shaven and hair cut) by ''[[The Early Show]]'' on [[CBS]].<Ref name="cbs5">Doane, Seth (5 January 2011). [http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500803_162-20027506-500803.html A Day with Golden Voiced Ted Williams], ''[[CBS News]]''</ref> He was interviewed on ''[[The Today Show]]'', January 6, doing the lead-in voice over.<ref>Andre Mayer, "[http://www.cbc.ca/arts/media/blogs/popculture/2011/01/ted-williams-voices-opening-to-today-show.html Ted Williams voices opening to Today Show]", ''CBC.ca'', January 6, 2011.</ref>

Revision as of 20:54, 6 January 2011

Ted Williams
Born1957 (age 66–67)
Brooklyn, New York, United States
NationalityAmerican
OccupationVoiceover artist

Ted Williams (born 1957) is an American voiceover artist based in Columbus, Ohio who became famous when a brief interview with him while he was homeless was posted to YouTube, quickly becoming a viral video sensation in early January 2011.[1] He has been called the "Homeless Man with the Golden Voice". The original video posting (originally posted on the Columbus Dispatch website) has been removed as a result of copyright protection violation, though numerous copies of the video still exist on different user channels.[2]

Biography

Raised in Brooklyn, New York, Williams has nine children, seven girls and two boys. Williams served three years for the United States Army and attended school for voice acting.[3] His inspiration to become a radio announcer came from a field trip at age 14, when he found that a radio announcer who he had heard looked nothing like he had imagined. Williams had experience as a radio disc jockey before. He worked some overnight shifts for WVKO (AM) in Columbus when the station played soul music.[4] However, Williams stated that around 1996, cocaine, crack[5] and alcohol abuse complicated his career leading to his then-current state of homelessness.[6] He says he 's been clean and sober since mid-2008.

A video was recorded in Columbus, Ohio at the Hudson Street off-ramp of Interstate 71 (40°00′54″N 82°59′42″W / 40.015063°N 82.994941°W / 40.015063; -82.994941), and posted at the Columbus Dispatch's website on January 3, 2011. It was recorded by Doral Chenoweth, a videographer for the paper.[7][8] It was reposted to YouTube by an anonymous user, and within one day it had been viewed millions of times.[9] Williams' story also garnered a large following on the social news website Reddit, with many users pledging donations of money, clothes, and job offers.[10] On January 5, 2011, Williams appeared on the "Dave and Jimmy Show" on WNCI and was interviewed (since clean shaven and hair cut) by The Early Show on CBS.[11] He was interviewed on The Today Show, January 6, doing the lead-in voice over.[12]

On January 5, Williams attempted to fly to New York to reunite with his 90-year old mother. However, TSA (Transportation Security Administration) did not allow him to do so since Mr. Williams lacked the proper identification material required necessary to enter an aircraft, according to Countdown with Keith Olbermann at MSNBC. Williams, through the intervention of The Today Show and The Early Show was able to reunite with his mother the following day.[13]

On January 5, 2011, the day after Williams became an internet sensation, the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball team offered him a job and a house. The offer calls for Williams to do full-time voiceover work with the Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena. Williams responded, "That’s the best deal ever!"[14]

On January 5, The Smoking Gun revealed that Williams' criminal record includes arrests in Ohio for a variety of charges, including theft, robbery, escape, forgery, and drug possession. A trespassing complaint against the then-homeless Williams was made as recently as July 2010.[15]

References

  1. ^ (5 January 2011). Viral Video Helps Give Homeless Man A New Chance, NPR
  2. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTysXITBCmk
  3. ^ WNCI 97.9 Radio Interview
  4. ^ "Ohio Homeless Man Earns Second Chance With 'Golden Radio Voice'". Radio Television Digital News Association. Jan 05 2011. Retrieved 2011-01-05. Williams had previously worked overnight shifts at WVKO (1580 AM), a former Columbus soul music station which now offers Catholic programming, according to Mail Online. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ (6 January 2011). Ted Williams, homeless former radio announcer, handed NBA role, The Guardian
  7. ^ [2]
  8. ^ [3]
  9. ^ [4]. Removed since.
  10. ^ [5]
  11. ^ Doane, Seth (5 January 2011). A Day with Golden Voiced Ted Williams, CBS News
  12. ^ Andre Mayer, "Ted Williams voices opening to Today Show", CBC.ca, January 6, 2011.
  13. ^ Ted Williams, homeless man with a golden voice, reunites with mom after being apart 20 years
  14. ^ Garrett Downing (5 January 2011). "Cavs offer homeless man with golden voice a job and a house". NewsChannel5 WEWS. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  15. ^ "Meet The Felon With The Golden Voice". The Smoking Gun. 5 January 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
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