Filed under: News, Interviews, Profiles
A reporter from The Columbus Dispatch saw Williams and decided to film a video. When Williams opens his mouth, it's immediately clear that he is not exaggerating. His voice sounds exactly like the one you hear when the radio announcer says the station's call letters or that guy whose voice you hear narrating movie trailers.
And we've all been tricked in to seeing some bad movie because the announcer's voice combined with the best scenes in the movie actually made the film seem interesting.
Williams has that type of voice.
His story is typical in many ways. Williams says struggles with drugs and alcohol, beginning in 1996, landed him on the side of a highway:
"I have a god given gift of voice. I'm an ex-radio announcer who has fallen on hard times. Please! Any help will be greatfully appreciated. Thank you and God bless. Happy holidays," Williams wrote on his sign.
He gave motorists a sample of his magnificent voice for a buck a pop. Williams says he was an ex-radio announcer who has been clean for two years now. After the video appeared online, it went viral with more than 3 million people viewing the clip.
Since then, Williams, a father of nine, has begun making a slew of media appearances. He appeared on the CBS' "The Early Show" and had already cleaned up quite well with a new haircut. The Cleveland Cavaliers have offered him a job as an announcer and living expenses. NFL Films also wants him to do some work for them.
The Cavaliers aren't concerned about Williams' past. The AP reported that Williams has been arrested and served time for theft, forgery and drug abuse. His most recent arrest was May 14 when he pleaded guilty to a minor theft charge. Williams listed his address as "Streets of Columbus" on law enforcement documents.
"We believe in second chances and second opportunities," Tracy Marek, the team's senior vice president of marketing told the AP. "The gentleman deserves an opportunity to explain certain situations. We're not jumping to conclusions. It's not fair."
Williams' hopes are modest.
"I would just like to have a job, a home, an apartment or anything to be able to cook in. I would like to get my life in a responsible area of a 53-year-old man, a taxpaying citizen and try to put some of my bad memories ... I'm not going to forget where I came from ... but I just want to put some of that on the back burner and continue with my life, whatever is left to live," Williams said. "I was holding that sign with the hopes or wishful thinking that someone was going to ride by and say, 'Hey man I got an Internet radio station that could use some production work.'"
But now Williams is getting much more. One of the benefits of his media tour is that he will get to come to New York to see his 92-year-old mother.
"One of my biggest prayers that I sent out was that she would live long enough to see me rebound," Williams said.
"She has always been my best friend," he said, crying. "When I was a kid, she would take me down to Radio City Music Hall and on the subway. I'm just glad that she is still around. I prayed that she would live long enough that I could make her proud and see could her son do something other than stand along the side of the road with a sign asking for money."
Williams' mother Julia Williams said she's happy to see her son getting his act together.
"This will be my day to see my son get up and do something to help himself," said Julia Williams. "He has so much talent. I hope this will be the thing for him. He came from a nice family. And then he went poor, poor. So, maybe this will build him up and let him see that there's more in life than hanging around with the wrong people, and taking drugs."
Williams says he's now more "appreciative of life." He says he has found God and, even before his new found fame, had found a sense of peace."I can't believe what's going on," said Williams. "God gave me a million-dollar voice, and I just hope I can do right by him."
It's such a wonderful story that you can't help but smile. It's always sad to see talented people who are loved by their family and friends succumb to drugs and alcohol. Williams' story should serve as a cautionary tale to all of those who think that nothing will happen to them if they dabble in drugs. Williams' addiction became so severe that he couldn't properly utilize his God-given gifts.
Williams now has a second chance and hopefully he will get the tools and support that he needs to make the most out of it. I don't know about you, but I'm curious how Williams' voice sounds in movie theater surround sound.