The "Golden Voiced" Internet sensation Ted Williams records voice over promos for MSNBC's "Lean Foward" campaign, in New York, on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011.
The story of Ted Williams and his "golden voice" is the kind of story that warms the heart — and makes us all wonder if we, too, could become famous if a video of our rare, yet previously undiscovered, talent went viral. In January, Williams, a down-on-his-luck homeless man living in Columbus, Ohio, became an internet sensation when a video, filmed by a Columbus Dispatch reporter, featuring his rich baritone voice, was viewed more than seven million times in its first two days online. Overnight, the former panhandler found him fielding job offers from the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kraft and MSNBC, as well as books deal proposals and reality-show deals. But the streets weren't paved entirely in gold for the man with the golden voice, as reports emerged that Williams was again struggling with alcohol abuse. He returned to rehab two separate times — the latter for emotional reasons, according to his publicist — and lost the job offer from the Cavaliers, but has since turned things around. Today, Williams is the official voice of the New England Cable News channel — and the official face of rags to riches stardom via the Internet.