Man with the 'golden voice' Ted Williams given back his job at Ohio radio station after over 30 years of homelessness and drug addiction
DORAL CHENOWETH III/AP
Ted Williams was turned into an internet sensation after a Columbus Dispatch video of him panhandling and advertising his "God-given gift of voice" went viral.
The “golden voice” is back on the airwaves.
Ted Williams, the man who went from homeless to an internet sensation after a video of him showcasing a perfect radio voice while panhandling in Ohio went viral, went back to work this week at the same gospel radio station where he began his radio career in the ‘80’s.
Williams, 58, became famous after theColumbus Dispatchpublished a video five years ago of the smooth-talking panhandler advertising his “God-given gift of voice” on the side of the road to make a few bucks from passing drivers.
Williams had developed his pitch-perfect voice typical of commercial disc jockeys through a career working in radio — a career interrupted when drug and alcohol addiction sent him from the studio to the streets.
“See how God works?” Williams said Thursday to the WVKO radio audience in Columbus, who hadn’t heard his “golden voice” over the airwaves in over 30 years.
It’s the first steady job Williams, a native of Brooklyn, has had since 1993.
“It’s come full circle. Thank you, Jesus,” Williams said into the microphone, according to theColumbus Dispatch.
PETER KRAMER/AP
The viral video taken 5 years ago launched Ted Williams into the national spotlight and he appeared on Dr. Phil and NBC's The Today Show.
The WVKO station manager Mel Griffin had no qualms about hiring Williams back to his old position.
“We teach and preach about giving second chances; sometimes we’re given third and fourth and fifth chances,” Griffin told theColumbus Dispatch.
“We all have issues and problems.”
DORAL CHENOWETH III/AP
Ted Williams brush with fame was punctuated by bouts of homelessness and struggles with drug and alcohol addiction.
The video made the disc jockey famous overnight earning him job offers from around the country, appearances on Dr. Phil and The Today Show as well as a $395,000 book deal for a book entitled “A Golden Voice: How Faith, Hard Work and Humility Brought Me from the Streets to Salvation.”
But the fame didn’t bring him the salvation Williams sought after struggles with drug and alcohol put him back on the streets.
“I’ve had so many frustrating situations occur,” Williams told theColumbus Dispatch.
PETER KRAMER/AP
Ted Williams reclaimed the same job he held in the '80s in Columbus, Ohio.
Williams hopes the second chance at his old job will turn out differently for him.
“God knows I’m not here to focus on everybody’s approval of me as a person right now,” Williams told theColumbus Dispatch. “I’m focusing on the imperishable part of me. I want to be right with God when I leave here.”
lbult@nydailynews.com
Ted Williams was turned into an internet sensation after a Columbus Dispatch video of him panhandling and advertising his "God-given gift of voice" went viral.
The “golden voice” is back on the airwaves.
Ted Williams, the man who went from homeless to an internet sensation after a video of him showcasing a perfect radio voice while panhandling in Ohio went viral, went back to work this week at the same gospel radio station where he began his radio career in the ‘80’s.
Williams, 58, became famous after theColumbus Dispatchpublished a video five years ago of the smooth-talking panhandler advertising his “God-given gift of voice” on the side of the road to make a few bucks from passing drivers.
Williams had developed his pitch-perfect voice typical of commercial disc jockeys through a career working in radio — a career interrupted when drug and alcohol addiction sent him from the studio to the streets.
“See how God works?” Williams said Thursday to the WVKO radio audience in Columbus, who hadn’t heard his “golden voice” over the airwaves in over 30 years.
It’s the first steady job Williams, a native of Brooklyn, has had since 1993.
“It’s come full circle. Thank you, Jesus,” Williams said into the microphone, according to theColumbus Dispatch.
The viral video taken 5 years ago launched Ted Williams into the national spotlight and he appeared on Dr. Phil and NBC's The Today Show.
The WVKO station manager Mel Griffin had no qualms about hiring Williams back to his old position.
“We teach and preach about giving second chances; sometimes we’re given third and fourth and fifth chances,” Griffin told theColumbus Dispatch.
“We all have issues and problems.”
Ted Williams brush with fame was punctuated by bouts of homelessness and struggles with drug and alcohol addiction.
The video made the disc jockey famous overnight earning him job offers from around the country, appearances on Dr. Phil and The Today Show as well as a $395,000 book deal for a book entitled “A Golden Voice: How Faith, Hard Work and Humility Brought Me from the Streets to Salvation.”
But the fame didn’t bring him the salvation Williams sought after struggles with drug and alcohol put him back on the streets.
“I’ve had so many frustrating situations occur,” Williams told theColumbus Dispatch.
Ted Williams reclaimed the same job he held in the '80s in Columbus, Ohio.
Williams hopes the second chance at his old job will turn out differently for him.
“God knows I’m not here to focus on everybody’s approval of me as a person right now,” Williams told theColumbus Dispatch. “I’m focusing on the imperishable part of me. I want to be right with God when I leave here.”
lbult@nydailynews.com