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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Ted Williams
| name = Teddy Williams
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Revision as of 05:55, 17 August 2012

Teddy Williams
Born (1957-09-22) September 22, 1957 (age 67)
Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York, New York, United States
NationalityAmerican
Other namesThe Man With The Golden Voice
OccupationVoice-over artist
Known forVoice-overs, viral videos, memoir, "golden voice"

Ted Williams (born September 22, 1957) is an American voice-over artist.[2] Williams gained widespread media attention when an interview made during a period when he was homeless went viral after being posted to YouTube in early January 2011. Williams has since received numerous job offers, including jobs. He is the author of A Golden Voice: How Faith, Hard Work, and Humility Brought Me from the Streets to Salvation (Gotham Books, May 10, 2012).[3]

Background

Williams was born and raised in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City.[4] He served three years in the United States Army, was honorably discharged, and attended school for voice acting.[5] His inspiration to become a radio announcer came from a field trip at age 14, when he found that a radio announcer whom he had heard looked nothing like he had imagined. Williams later worked overnight shifts for WVKO (AM) in Columbus when the station played soul music.[6] According to Williams, his life started falling apart in 1986 with a combination of drug and alcohol abuse plus a loss of interest in his career. During this period Williams was arrested at least seven times on charges including theft, drug possession, escape, and robbery.[7][8] He was also issued misdemeanor citations for drug abuse, criminal trespassing, and pedestrian solicitation.[9] These resulted in two prison sentences, with Williams serving three months in 1990 for theft and nearly two months in 2004 for theft, forgery and obstructing official business.[9] He is a father of nine children: seven girls and two boys.[10]

Recognition and response

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Doral Chenoweth, a videographer for the Columbus Dispatch in Columbus, Ohio, recorded an interview with Williams, and posted the interview on the newspaper's website on January 3, 2011.[11][12] Recorded during a period when Williams was homeless, Chenoweth located Williams standing next to traffic, holding a cardboard sign with a handwritten advertisement of his voice and a request for donations. In the recording, Chenoweth asked Williams to demonstrate his voice. The video showed a disheveled Williams gratefully receiving a donation and improvising a startlingly accomplished radio station promo. The video concluded with a short interview where Williams elaborated on his education and the problems that led to his homelessness.[13] The video was reposted to YouTube[14][15] where it received significant attention.[16] At the same time, Williams' story garnered attention on social news websites with users pledging money, clothes, and job offers.[17] On January 5, 2011, Williams appeared on the "Dave and Jimmy Show" on WNCI and was interviewed by The Early Show on CBS.[18] He was interviewed on Today, January 6, doing the lead-in voice over, revealing that he was to have an interview to do voice overs for Kraft Foods.[19] On January 10, a fundraiser website, TedWilliamsYourVoice, was set up to support Williams.[citation needed]

Subsequently, Williams received several job offers. On January 5, the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball team offered him a job and a home. 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!"[20] On January 7, 2011, Williams was officially hired by MSNBC to provide voiceovers for the network.[21] Williams was also hired to be the voice behind Kraft Foods' new TV campaign, which launched on ESPN during the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl on January 9.[citation needed]

Williams said he had remained sober since mid-2008, but started drinking again after the media attention. On January 12, 2011, after a lengthy one-on-one talk with TV psychologist "Dr. Phil" McGraw, Williams admitted to drinking alcohol heavily again and agreed to go to Origins Recovery Center[22], a male-only drug rehab facility in Texas arranged by Dr. Phil.[23] He had also made the commitment to attend alcohol rehabilitation courses.[24] Williams checked himself out of the rehab facility after 12 days.[25]

Later, in February 2011, Williams, reflecting on why he had left the rehab facility, said to reporters that "I love Dr. Phil. I don't want to bash him in any way. I walked out of treatment because it was a little scripted, I felt. There was no anonymity. I want him to know that his cares and his concerns will not be in vain. I am going to try and truly get back into the swing of things."[26]

Also in February 2011, the reality show Second Chances at Life was announced to be in pre-production with Williams as host. A second season is also being planned and, if produced, is slated to introduce new individuals who also deserve a second chance at life.[27]

On March 9, 2011, Williams was interviewed again on Today, where he thanked his voice over mentors, Randy Thomas and Joe Cipriano and reported he was doing well and living in a sober house in Studio City, Los Angeles, California.[28]

In April 2011, Williams returned to Columbus as part of shooting a commercial for a local store and a reality show.[29]

On May 6, 2011, it was announced that Williams would be entering a Texas rehabilitation facility for emotional reasons and not for narcotic reasons. Furthermore, Williams' book and reality show are on break until Williams returns.[30][31] The following day, The News-Herald reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers had retracted their earlier job offer to Williams.[32]

In November 2011, New England Cable News announced that Williams had joined NECN as the official voice of the New England cable channel and would be working out of his at-home studio in Dublin, Ohio.[33][34]

In February 2012, he became 'The Golden Voice of Love' to promote Kraft's Mac & Cheese in a YouTube campaign. He will read selected tweeted declarations of love between 12th and 14th February.[35]

On May 14, 2012, Williams made an appearance in an interview on the Today Show with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb. In the interview he said he had been clean and sober for over a year, was working, and is doing well.[36]

Voice-over work

Interviews

References

  1. ^ "‘Golden voice’ Ted Williams trying to stay on a positive path", The Columbus Dispatch newspaper, September 2011.
  2. ^ Jan 7, 2011 02:33AM. "Chicago-Sun Times". Suntimes.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2011-01-07.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "A Golden Voice: How Faith, Hard Work, and Humility Brought Me from the Streets to Salvation". http://us.penguingroup.com. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  4. ^ "Ted Williams' Mom on His Sudden Fame". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  5. ^ Radio Interview, WNCI
  6. ^ "Ohio Homeless Man Earns Second Chance With 'Golden Radio Voice'". Radio Television Digital News Association. 2011-01-05. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03. 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.
  7. ^ Lloyd, Jason (January 7, 2011). "Cavs hire homeless man despite record". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  8. ^ "Ted Williams' Arrest Photos". WBNS-TV. January 7, 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  9. ^ a b Joy, Kevin; Amy Saunders (January 5, 2011). "Media frenzy overwhelms Columbus' 'golden voice'". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  10. ^ a b The Today Show, "Ted Williams on Today Show (1/6/2011) FULL INTERVIEW – Golden voice homeless man", "youtube.com", January 6, 2011.
  11. ^ Meena Hartenstein (January 4, 2011). "Homeless man Ted Williams becomes viral video star in quest to be a radio announcer". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03.
  12. ^ "Homeless man with voice of gold has chance at redemption". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. 2011-01-05. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  13. ^ Video location: Hudson Street (exit 112) off-ramp of Interstate 71, Columbus Ohio: 40°00′54″N 82°59′42″W / 40.015063°N 82.994941°W / 40.015063; -82.994941
  14. ^ Rivas, Jorge (4 January 2011) "Ohio Man With Golden Voice Tells His Tale of Jobless Crisis" (Archive as of 3 February 2011).
  15. ^ Vitale, Robert (8 January 2011) "How the 'golden voice' video went viral" (Archive as of 3 February 2011).
  16. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTysXITBCmk. Removed since. [dead link]
  17. ^ "Homeless man w/golden radio voice in Columbus, OH [VIDEO". reddit.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  18. ^ Doane, Seth (5 January 2011). A Day with Golden Voiced Ted Williams, CBS News (Archive as of 3 February 2011).
  19. ^ a b Mayer, Andre. "Ted Williams voices opening to Today Show", CBC.ca, January 6, 2011. (Archive as of February 3, 2011).
  20. ^ Garrett Downing (5 January 2011). "Cavs offer homeless man with golden voice a job and a house". NewsChannel5 WEWS. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  21. ^ TedWilliamsBlog (7 January 2011). "Ted Williams Hired !". Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  22. ^ TMZ, Staff. "'Golden Voice' Ted Williams Bails on Rehab". TMZ.com. EHM Productions, Inc. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  23. ^ "Golden Voice Ted Williams Heads to Rehab". CBS News. 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  24. ^ "'Golden Voice' Ted Williams Headed to Rehab". 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  25. ^ "'Golden Voice' Ted Williams departs drug rehab". CNN. 2011-01-25. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  26. ^ Gicas, Peter, "Golden-Voiced Ted Williams: Fame Came Too Quickly", E! Online, 18 February 2011.
  27. ^ "'Golden Voice' Ted Williams Scores REALITY SHOW", TMZ, 2 February 2011.
  28. ^ a b Inbar, Michael, "‘Golden-voiced’ man on relapse: ‘It was just awful’: But now Ted Williams says ‘stronger spirituality’ helps him stay sober", Today, 9 March 2011.
  29. ^ "'Golden Voice' Returns To Columbus To Film Commercial, Reality Show". WBNS-TV / 10TV News. April 13, 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  30. ^ 'Golden Voice' Ted Williams -- Headed Back to Rehab, TMZ, 5 May 2011.
  31. ^ Gravey, Marianne (May 06, 2011). "Golden-Voiced Ted Williams Headed Back to Rehab". E!. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ Finnan, Bob. "Bob Finnan's NBA notes: Cavaliers could go international route early in draft", The News-Herald, 7 May 2011.
  33. ^ "Ted Williams joins NECN". New England Cable News / NECN. November 7, 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  34. ^ Heslam, Jessica, "From homeless to a home at NECN", The Boston Herald, 11 November 2011.
  35. ^ Is (Formerly) Homeless Dude Ted Williams the New Isaiah Mustafa?, AdAge.com, 9 February 2012.
  36. ^ a b Stump, Scott, [http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47412924/ns/today-today_news/t/ted-williams-ive-been-sober-year-one-day-time/ "Ted Williams: I’ve been sober a year, ‘one day at a time’ ‘Man with the golden voice’ walked daughter down the aisle: ‘I never lost hope’"], MSNBC, May 14, 2012.
  37. ^ Jimmy Fallon (January 6, 2011). "Ted Williams talking to Fallon about the original video and his voiceover for Kraft". latenightwithjimmyfallon.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  38. ^ Rachel Maddow, "Ted Williams recites 18th amendment of United States Constitution on the Rachel Maddow Show", "CBC.ca", January 6, 2011. (Archive as of February 3, 2011).
  39. ^ The Early Show, "Ted Williams talking to The Early Show about the original video and his life being changed", "youtube.com", January 6, 2011.
  40. ^ Jimmy Fallon, "Ted Williams talking to Fallon about the original video and his voiceover for Kraft", "latenightwithjimmyfallon.com", January 6, 2011. (Archive as of February 3, 2011).
  41. ^ The Last Word with Lawrence O' Donnell, "Ted Williams talking to Lawrence O' Donnell about the original video and being reunited with The Columbus Dispatch photographer", "msnbc.com", January 6, 2011.
  42. ^ The Early Show, "Ted Williams talking to The Early Show about being reunited with his mom, his work with Kraft, and recent job offers", "youtube.com", January 7, 2011.
  43. ^ The Early Show, "Ted Williams talking to the Early Show on Life After Rehab", "youtube.com", February 9, 2011.
  44. ^ http://www.imus.com/guestbook/category/ted-williams

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