Artists
Paul Potts
"Ok …, ready when you are", Simon Cowell said.
That far perhaps the most important five words Paul Potts had ever heard in his singing career. The date was March 17, 2007, the place was the Wales Millenium Centre in Cardiff and Potts had just announced he was to sing opera in front of the skeptical looking jury of Britain's Got Talent, Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan.
Ninety seconds later, after performing his rendition of Puccini's "Nessun Dorma", Potts got a standing ovation from the 2,000-strong audience. A new tenor had just been discovered.
Watch the clip on YouTube, being one of the highest rated ever >>
Paul Potts auditioning for
Britain's Got Talent
Born and raised in Bristol, England, 36-year-old Paul Potts first sang opera in public at a karaoke event in 1999. Later that year, Potts appeared in his first music competition winning £8,000, all spent on singing lessons in Italy, at one point getting the opportunity to sing in front of Luciano Pavarotti.
Eight years later, after performing "Con Te Partirò (Time To Say Goodbye)" in the final, Potts on June 17, 2007, was crowned winner of Britain's Got Talent. Given a record deal from Simon Cowell, things immediately started to change for the now Welsh mobile phone salesman.
Potts's first destination was the world famous AIR Studios in London for the recordings of his debut album "One Chance". With a full symphony orchestra to back him up, Per Magnusson and David Kreuger produced three of the songs; "Nessun Dorma", "Con Te Partirò" and a new version of Ennio Morricone's "Nella Fantasia".
While in the studios working on his album, the rumour of Potts' BGT victory had reached the US. Potts flew to New York where he was profiled on several radio and TV talk shows, including the NBC's Today Show in which he appeared on June 21.
On NBC's Today Show in New York
Back in the UK, Welsh award-winning mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins had extended an invitation for Potts to perform his rendition of "Nessun Dorma" at her concert "Katherine in the Park". So on July 8, he made his live debut at Margam Park in Port Talbot - his own hometown.
Paul Potts' album "One Chance" was released in the UK on July 16. Less than a week later he found himself at #1 on the charts. By selling more than 128,000 copies, Potts had outsold the rest of his Top 10 rivals combined. The album held the number one position for three consecutive weeks.
Released outside the UK, Paul Potts' "One Chance" has seen considerable worldwide success reaching number one in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Hong Kong and Korea.