Richard Goodall is ready to marry his fiancée in California before the AGT finale.
Richard Goodall, the “singing custodian” from Terre Haute, has one more week of competition with a chance to win NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”
Goodall was announced as a finalist on Thursday night’s show.You can watch Goodall compete in the finals Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. on Channel 13.
The winner will be announced a week later on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
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An Indiana man is one step away from the finals of “America’s Got Talent,” but he needs your vote!
Richard Goodall was back for his third performance on the show Wednesday night. He sang “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, starting the song a cappella before the lights came up on a guitarist and drummer to accompany him on stage.Fans can vote for Goodall (and the 11 other semifinalists) through 7 a.m. EDT on Thursday, Sept. 12. The six acts that receive the most votes will advance to next week’s finals for a chance at the $1 million top prize.
Votes can be made on the “America’s Got Talent” website or through the AGT app, which is available for download in the App Store and Google Play.
Goodall, a custodian for Vigo County Schools, became a viral sensation after his rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” at a school talent show caught the attention of former Journey frontman Steve Perry and AGT judge Howie Mandel on TikTok.
“Howie, he posted me on his TikTok and it said, ‘Needs to be on AGT,’” Goodall said. “Next thing I know, one of the senior producers messages and says, ‘Are you interested in being on the show?’”
He became a bigger hit when he earned a Golden Buzzer from judge Heidi Klum in his audition for the show.
You can find out if Goodall is moving on to the finals during the live results show on Thursday, Sept. 12. The two-night finale of this season of “America’s Got Talent” starts Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m., with the winner announced a week later on Sept. 24.
Richard Goodall and Angie’s love story started with music
Goodall told IndyStar in May that he started performing at karaoke nights in the ’90s and eventually moved to the contest circuit with local radio stations. Then the COVID-19 pandemic put the world on pause, and in June 2021, his longtime wife, Patty, died of cancer.“When you’re married for so long and they pass away and you’ve got that void there, your biggest concern is figuring out who you are without them,” he said. “And music was the bridge again.”Goodall said a karaoke night a few months after his wife’s death was the catalyst for a new phase of his life — and finding new love. A fellow janitor posted to Facebook that he was going to be at a bar with his karaoke system, and it prompted Goodall to start singing publicly again.
He continued appearing at the bar and on the bar’s Facebook page, which Vanoven followed. The couple connected and started talking on New Year’s Day 2022, he said, “and the rest is me and her history.
Vanoven was unable to join Goodall in California for his audition, but the Terre Haute community started a GoFundMe to help offset the costs of both of their travel, helping her join him for subsequent performances. Goodall dedicated his quarterfinals performance — a cover of Michael Bolton’s “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You?” — to her, and she’s been regularly featured on the show, both from the audience and alongside him in pre-taped segments.
What will he sing on the big day?
Some Wabash Valley musicians offered some song suggestions for him to perform at the Finale, which, in fact, would also be quite fitting for his wedding. Their suggestions:
• “I have a song that is probably not well known but would suit his voice, show off his range, and be an emotional crowd pleaser: ‘Never Saw a Miracle’ by Curtis Stigers.” — David Hunt, longtime frontman for Terre Haute band The MacDaddys.• “Because Richard has such a beautiful voice fueled by the sheer love of music and the joy of singing, he really can’t go wrong with whatever he chooses! I’d personally love to hear him sing ‘Faithfully’ by Journey, for no other reason than I love the song and I know that Richard would do it justice! Good luck and bring it on home Richard!!” — Terre Haute actress and singer Kimberly McMurray.
• “‘I Want to Know What Love Is,’ maybe, for a great voice (by Richard) and a great song (by Foreigner). Maybe a Mellencamp song like ‘Hurt So Good.’ He would have the place rockin’.” — Terre Haute blues harp virtuoso Steve Rusin.
• “There are three that come to mind pretty quickly, and all can reflect aspects of his journey. I think they are all also a good fit for the timbre and range of his voice, as well as being motivational, and something the live and television audiences would like hearing: ‘It’s my Life’ by Bon Jovi, ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ by Bon Jovi, [and] ‘It’s a Long Way To the Top (If you wanna rock ‘n’ roll’) by AC/DC.” — Michael Boswell, director of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College choirs.
• “‘Rosanna’ by Toto, ‘Hey Jude’ by The Beatles, ‘Sunset Grill’ by Don Henley, [or] ‘Black Dog’ by Led Zeppelin.” — Terre Haute bassist and Wabash Valley Musicians Hall of Famer Mark Ford.
• “I think he needs to do a Bryan Adams song: “Everything I do” or (if he wants up-tempo) “Run to You.” Richard has a smoky quality to his voice that would really sound great on those classic Bryan Adams songs! I think “Everything I do” would also suit who he is authentically; he always mentions his fiancé. I think he could sing this one from the heart, and if he connects to the song, the audience will connect with him.” — Terre Haute singer-songwriter and a dean at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Tracy Richardson.
• “I’d just encourage Richard to sing from the heart! We’re all behind you!” — John McIntyre, retired professor of music and director of the SMWC concert band.
• “I would suggest Aerosmith’s ‘Dream On.’ It fits Richard, and it’s what all we need today: Hope; looking toward the future with hope and dreaming about what could be … ‘Sing with me, if it’s just today … dream on till your dreams come true.’” — David Bowden, artistic director of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra.
• “His voice has that ‘smoky-bar’ edge to it, very similar to Bryan Adams. So, if Richard is going to continue doing covers, any of Adams’ songs would be a good choice. But, I hope he picks an up-tempo song. Slow, ballad-type songs with long extended notes tend to expose vocal flaws more than up-tempo songs. I think we saw that in his second televised appearance.” — Scott Buchanan, director of choral activities in the School of Music at Indiana State University.
