Neal E. Boyd
Encyclopedia
Neal E. Boyd is an American pop opera
singer. He is best known as the 2008 winner of America's Got Talent
.
. He discovered operatic music in junior high school when his older brother was forced to do a school project involving classical music and brought home a CD of the Three Tenors. His brother had little appreciation for classical music, but Neal was so enamored by the passion and skill of the famous trio that he started learning to sing in Luciano Pavarotti
's and Plácido Domingo
's operatic styles. A creative seed was planted, and Neal went on to study Speech Communications, Political Science, and Vocal Music at Southeast Missouri State University
in Cape Girardeau, MO, and the University of Missouri
in Columbia, MO, graduating from both universities simultaneously in May 2001. He was the winner of the Music Teachers National Association
(MTNA) Vocal Collegiate Championship in 2000 while in the voice studio of Professor Ann Harrell of the UM-Columbia. This national win led to his solo debut at New York City
's famed Carnegie Hall
in March 2001. After teaching music for a year in his hometown of Sikeston, MO, he later attended the New England Conservatory of Music
in Boston, MA to study opera — which led to a lead role as the slave "York" in Michael Ching
's World Premier Opera "Corps of Discovery, A Musical Journey," commissioned by MU.
Boyd was his high school's student body president in 1993–94 and the president of the Student Senate at Southeast Missouri State University, where he was also a member of Lambda Chi Alpha
Fraternity. He has a bachelor's degree in speech communications from Southeast Missouri State University, a Bachelor's degree in music from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a Master’s degree in management from the University of Phoenix
. In 2001, he had planned to attend Yale University
, but plans changed when he decided to study with another professor at the New England Conservatory of Music
in Boston
.
In 2000, he sang at the memorial service for former Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan
who died in a plane crash during his U.S. Senate run against then Senator and later U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft
. In 2005, he sang the National Anthem at the inauguration of Missouri Governor Matt Blunt
. While in college, Boyd interned at the capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri
. Various Missouri state and local officials nicknamed Boyd "The Voice of Missouri" due to his appearances at many prominent statewide events.
in 2008, and was awarded the $1-million prize and a headline show in Las Vegas
, Nevada
.
, Nevada
, hosted by Jerry Springer
.
On October, 2008, Neal's hometown declared the month of October "Neal E. Boyd Month."
and released his debut album, My American Dream, on June 23, 2009, the day of the fourth season
premiere of America's Got Talent
. It debuted at #195 on the Billboard 200
and #3 on the Top Classical Albums Chart.
On March 10, 2010, Neal performed for the current U.S. President Barack Obama
while visiting Missouri. Since 2010, Boyd has also performed for Presidents George Herbert Walker Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, and George Walker Bush.
. He also plans on running for the Missouri House of Representatives in the 2012 election.
Operatic pop
Operatic pop, pop opera or popera is a subgenre of pop music that is performed in an operatic style, or a song, theme or motif from classical music stylized as pop. The term popera and adjectives poperatic and popical are used by some media editors and music reviewers...
singer. He is best known as the 2008 winner of America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
.
Early life
Neal E. Boyd, known worldwide as "The Voice of Missouri," grew up in Sikeston, MissouriSikeston, Missouri
Sikeston is a city located both in southern Scott County and northern New Madrid County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is geographically situated just north of the "Missouri Bootheel", although many locals consider Sikeston a part of it. By way of Interstate 55, Sikeston is close to the...
. He discovered operatic music in junior high school when his older brother was forced to do a school project involving classical music and brought home a CD of the Three Tenors. His brother had little appreciation for classical music, but Neal was so enamored by the passion and skill of the famous trio that he started learning to sing in Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
's and Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
's operatic styles. A creative seed was planted, and Neal went on to study Speech Communications, Political Science, and Vocal Music at Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University, is a public, accredited university located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States, near the banks of the Mississippi River. The institution, having started as a normal school, has a traditional strength in teacher education...
in Cape Girardeau, MO, and the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in Columbia, MO, graduating from both universities simultaneously in May 2001. He was the winner of the Music Teachers National Association
Music Teachers National Association
-Membership:Its membership consists of approximately 22,000 independent and collegiate music teachers. MTNA headquarters are in downtown Cincinnati on the 31st floor of the Carew Tower.- MTNA structure :...
(MTNA) Vocal Collegiate Championship in 2000 while in the voice studio of Professor Ann Harrell of the UM-Columbia. This national win led to his solo debut at New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's famed Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in March 2001. After teaching music for a year in his hometown of Sikeston, MO, he later attended the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
in Boston, MA to study opera — which led to a lead role as the slave "York" in Michael Ching
Opera Memphis
Opera Memphis is a non-profit arts organization in Memphis, Tennessee. It was established in 1956 in conjunction with the founding of WKNO-FM, the local public radio affiliate....
's World Premier Opera "Corps of Discovery, A Musical Journey," commissioned by MU.
Boyd was his high school's student body president in 1993–94 and the president of the Student Senate at Southeast Missouri State University, where he was also a member of Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
Fraternity. He has a bachelor's degree in speech communications from Southeast Missouri State University, a Bachelor's degree in music from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a Master’s degree in management from the University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...
. In 2001, he had planned to attend Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, but plans changed when he decided to study with another professor at the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.
In 2000, he sang at the memorial service for former Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan
Mel Carnahan
Melvin Eugene "Mel" Carnahan was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as the 51st Governor of Missouri from 1993 to 2000. He died in a plane crash on the Pevely and Hillsboro, Missouri border during a campaign for the U.S...
who died in a plane crash during his U.S. Senate run against then Senator and later U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft
John Ashcroft
John David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
. In 2005, he sang the National Anthem at the inauguration of Missouri Governor Matt Blunt
Matt Blunt
Matthew Roy Blunt served as the 54th Governor of Missouri from 2005 to 2009. Before his election as governor, Blunt served ten years in the United States Navy, was elected to serve in the Missouri General Assembly in 1998 and as Missouri's Secretary of State in 2000.A Republican, Blunt was elected...
. While in college, Boyd interned at the capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
. Various Missouri state and local officials nicknamed Boyd "The Voice of Missouri" due to his appearances at many prominent statewide events.
America's Got Talent
Boyd was the winner of America's Got TalentAmerica's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
in 2008, and was awarded the $1-million prize and a headline show in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
Performances/Results
| Week | Theme | Song choice | Original artist | Performance order | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | Inspiration | "Nessun Dorma Nessun dorma Nessun dorma is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot, and is one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf, il principe ignoto , who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot... " |
3 | Advanced | |
| Vegas Verdicts | Classical Singers | "Unchained Melody Unchained Melody "Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages.... " |
Todd Duncan Todd Duncan Robert Todd Duncan was an American baritone opera singer and actor.-Biography:Todd Duncan was born in Danville, Kentucky in 1903. He obtained his musical training at Butler University in Indianapolis with a B.A. in music followed by an M.A... |
4 | Advanced |
| Top 40 | Group 1 | "Somewhere Somewhere (song) "Somewhere" is a song from the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story which was made into a film in 1961. The music is composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and takes a phrase from the slow movement of Beethoven's 'Emperor' Piano Concerto, which forms the start of the... " |
Reri Grist Reri Grist Reri Grist is an American coloratura soprano, one of the pioneer African-American singers to enjoy a major international career in opera.-Biography:... |
10 | Advanced |
| Top 20 | Group 1 Heroes |
"Mama Mama (Il Divo song) -Song information:Mama was the first original song ever released by Il Divo. It was released both as limited edition single and as a DVD. It is also included in the DVD Il Divo: Live at the Greek Theater.... " |
Il Divo Il Divo Il Divo is a multinational operatic pop vocal group created by music manager, executive, and reality TV star Simon Cowell. Formed in the United Kingdom, they are also signed to Cowell's record label, Syco Music... |
7 | Advanced |
| Top 10 | Inspirations | "All By Myself All by Myself "All by Myself" is a power ballad written and performed by Eric Carmen in 1975.The verse is based on the second movement of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18... " |
Eric Carmen Eric Carmen Eric Howard Carmen is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist.He scored numerous hit songs across the 1970s and 1980s, first as a member of the Raspberries , and then with his solo career, including hits such as "All By Myself", "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", "She Did It",... |
8 | Advanced |
| Top 5 | Finals | "Nessun Dorma" | 5 | Winner |
Post Talent
Neal was awarded the $1-million prize and a headline show in Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, hosted by Jerry Springer
Jerry Springer
Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer is a British-born American television presenter, best known as host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991...
.
On October, 2008, Neal's hometown declared the month of October "Neal E. Boyd Month."
My American Dream (2009–present)
Neal signed to Decca RecordsDecca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
and released his debut album, My American Dream, on June 23, 2009, the day of the fourth season
America's Got Talent (season 4)
The fourth season of America's Got Talent, an American television reality show talent competition, premiered on the NBC network on June 23, 2009. Country singer Kevin Skinner was named the winner on September 16, 2009....
premiere of America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
. It debuted at #195 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and #3 on the Top Classical Albums Chart.
On March 10, 2010, Neal performed for the current U.S. President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
while visiting Missouri. Since 2010, Boyd has also performed for Presidents George Herbert Walker Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, and George Walker Bush.
Politics
Neal is a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He also plans on running for the Missouri House of Representatives in the 2012 election.
Albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales threshold) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Class | US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
Year End Class |
|||
| 2009 | My American Dream My American Dream My American Dream is the debut studio album released by Neal E. Boyd on June 23, 2009.-Background:After Neal won the third season of America's Got Talent, Neal was signed to Decca Records...
|
195 | 3 | 10 | 29 |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
|||
| 2009 | "God Bless the USA God Bless the USA "God Bless the USA" is an American patriotic song written and recorded by country musician Lee Greenwood. The first Greenwood album it appears on is 1984's You've Got a Good Love Comin'. It reached No... " |
— | My American Dream |