Jimmie Herrod stole the show on America's Got Talent, and here are some interesting facts about his life. He was dressed in vibrant red while climbing towards high notes and received a Golden Buzzer during his audition. He's continued winning over the judges. Many viewers praised the decision, with more than a few YouTube users saying they knew the man before he became famous. Prior to becoming a singer, he was a classmate, a teacher, and a friend.
Herrod trained in musical composition at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, receiving a Bachelor’s degree for his studies. During this time, he built his stage experience in the Seattle music sphere to spread his talent. The future AGT contestant received a Master’s of Music in Jazz from Portland State University. In 2018, Herrod released an album titled Falling in Love and Learning to Love Myself" that included his original songs. He also toured with the fusion orchestra Pink Martini as a guest vocalist.
When Herrod came to America’s Got Talent, he prepared one song, “Tomorrow,” from the musical Annie and put his heart into it for the Portland auditions. Simon Cowell wanted another piece, but Herrod admitted that he had only prepared one for his audition. Nevertheless, Sofia Vergara pressed the Golden Buzzer, which launched him into the quarterfinals immediately. The judges unanimously agreed with that decision, remaining true to the AGT Golden Buzzer's recent origins.
Jimmie Herrod Got A Standing Ovation
The judges and audience gave Herrod a standing ovation for his “Pure Imagination” rendition in the show’s quarterfinals. Herrod sank into a sincere counter-tenor slide during this live show and then raised his pitch. He belted Willy Wonka’s lyrics amid the glamorous set. The audience cheered, standing to clap before he even finished the last set of lyrics. The judges joined in, with Simon shouting, “Jimmie, hurrah!” Sofia exclaimed that the song “gave me goosebumps.” Howie Mandel thanked Herrod for giving Sofia goosebumps that he could see. The Talent Recap captured this iconic moment, and Herrod received enough votes to advance to the semi-finals. The judges noted that the other contestants will have stiff competition in the semifinals.
Jimmie Herrod Is Humble
Other contestants had to drop out, such as AGT fan-favorite Nightbirde, for health reasons. Herrod was luckier and is modest about the amazing support he has received. He was so classy while decked out in bright red. After his quarterfinals performance, he thanked everyone for their kindness and standing ovation. Herrod looked excited at the thought that he could potentially win the season. He was in awe. He certainly has a good chance with his consistent performance skills.
Jimmie Herrod Has A Wide Vocal Range
“Pure Imagination” is a man’s quiet invitation for others to see the world through his eyes and behold the wonders of his creation without any judgment. Gene Wilder first sang it in the movie Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory. Other notable cover artists include Mariah Carey and Josh Groban. Herrod emulated the spirit of the song by transposing the melody to a higher pitch and letting the volume gradually climb. Like AGT legend Victory Brinker, he knew how to move the audience with an emotional story of wonder. “Pure Imagination” was a fitting choice to showcase Herrod’s wide vocal range and genius due to its iconic pop culture status. See Jimmie perform in the clip shown above.
Herrod is unique among the America’s Got Talent contestants in that his education and stage experience taught him how to perform and project his voice to a large audience. Pink Martini, founded in 1997, provided ample opportunity for Herrod to get on stage and wow an enthusiastic crowd. He brings unique jazz training to his arrangements and appreciation for unusual transpositions in classic songs. His stage presence gives him good odds to win America's Got Talent season 16.
Source: Talent Recap/YouTube