Michael Grimm during Branson Tourism Center interview.
(Branson, Mo) During an interview about his expectations from competing on the NBC prime time hit show “America’s Got Talent (AGT)” Michael Grimm said, “I just want to get as far as I can get. It would be an honor if I can make it a couple of rounds, open some doors for my career, and make enough money to build my Grandma a new house.” The exclusive interview, for the Branson Tourism Center, was conducted right after his initial audition for AGT had aired and two days prior to leaving the “Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley” show in Branson, Missouri to devote full time to the competition.
On the evening of September 15, the smooth raspy voiced southern blues singer went as far as anyone can go on America’s Got Talent and received its ultimate honor. In front of a national prime time audience, Grimm won AGT and its first place prize of $1 million dollars and being the privilege of being headliner on the AGT National Tour and show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
From the thousands that initially auditioned for the show and after weeks of competition four acts made it to the Finals which was held the evening of September 14. The four finalist were “Prince Poppy Cock,” basically a singer who presents his songs in his own unusual, but extremely entertaining way; “Fighting Gravity,” a black light show with great visual appeal and Jackie Evanco an 11 year old young lady with an operatic voice that is unbelievable and Michael Grimm. “America voted” and Michael Grimm came in first, Jackie Evanco second, Fighting Gravity third and Price Poppycock fourth.
During the Branson Tourism Center interview Grimm said that his relationship with his Grandma, Laura Butters, goes back to about age four when she took over the raising of him and his sister after their parents separated. He unabashedly says that “My grandma is my inspiration” and credits her, not only with his interest in music, but with the start of his professional career.
Michael Grimm and McKenna Medley singing ""You Don't Know Me" during one of his last performances in the "Righteous Brothers' Bill Medley Show."
He said that it started at about age six when he and his sister started singing the great hymns like “Jesus Loves Me,” “Amazing Grace” and others in church. At about age twelve he started singing professionally in “hole in the wall” bars in the Waveland Bay St. Louis area in southern Mississippi. On each appearance his Grandma would chaperone him and sit there drinking “Diet Cokes” all night until he was through.
Grimm said that over the last ten years he has worked a lot in Las Vegas at casino lounges such as Caesar’s Palace, New York New York and the Station Casinos. He is also an accomplished song writer; has opened for artists such as the band Heart, BB King and Peter Green, who used to be with Fleetwood Mac; has recorded and released two CDs “Michael Grimm Live,” recorded live at the Cannery Casino in Las Vegas and “I Am Michael Grimm,” with all original music and is currently working on another unnamed CD with which he is honored to have Bill Medley helping him on a couple of the songs.
He went on to say that over the last year or so he has been working with Bill Medley on various road trips and in “The Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley Show in Branson, as a vocalist and guitar player. Although his first visit to Branson wasn’t until the second half of 2009 it has obviously made an impression on him. Grimm said, “My first memory of Branson is the hospitality and friendliness of everybody. This is God’s country out here, this is America and that’s what I love about it.”
In an interview with Levi Michael of the Branson Tourism Center on September 16, Bill Medley said that Grimm is a true artist, passionate about his music and deserves every bit of the wave of success he is riding. When asked what she thought about Michael winning AGT McKenna Medley said, “I am so ecstatic, it’s not even funny. I was freaking out, I went running jumping screaming and couldn’t even talk for 30 minutes.”
While in Branson performing in the Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley Show, Grimm sang a duet with McKenna of the Jann Arden song “You Don’t Know Me.” He sang that song in the audition that launched him on his way to winning AGT and caused the shows MC, Nick Cannon to say, “That’s a Super Star’s voice right there.” America has voted and evidently they agree.
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Branson entertainer Michael Grimm makes Final Four in “America’s Got Talent”
Branson entertainer Michael Grimm pursues dream on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”
Great video of Bill and McKenna Medley sharing insights on Micheal Grimm