“Golden-voiced” Homeless Man Lands Dream Job, House

COLUMBUS, Ohio - An Internet video of a homeless man showing off his self-described "God-given gift of a great voice" has landed him a spot on a local radio show, a dream job with the Cleveland Cavaliers and a house.

"The Cleveland Cavaliers just offered me a full-time job and a house! A house! A house!," said Williams while appearing on a morning radio show in Columbus called "Dave and Jimmy".

Williams was offered the job and free home by a caller to the show who said she represented the Cavaliers, the New York Post reported.

Williams will also appear on NBC's TODAY on Thursday, Matt Lauer said Wednesday.

A reporter from the Columbus Dispatch came across Ted Williams while Williams was panhandling near Interstate 71 recently. Williams was carrying a sign explaining he was a former radio announcer who had fallen on hard times.

"Any help will be gratefully appreciated," the sign said.

A roadside interview on YouTube demonstrates the homeless man isn't exaggerating. He's as smooth as any announcer heard on radio or television.

The popularity of the "the voice" video has soared on the Internet, spawning coverage in the N.Y. Daily Post and CBS News

Williams said he grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and at 14 took a field trip to a radio station. While there, he was struck that one of the on-air announcers looked nothing like he sounded.

"Radio is defined 'theater of mind,'" the worker said. Williams was hooked. He said it took years to develop his voice and he also "went to school for it."

"Alcohol and drugs — and few other things — became my life," he said, but since has "been two years clean."

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