America’s Got Talent finalist, Donald Braswell II is proving his mettle in the entertainment world. Donald impressed audiences last year on the talent show with his astounding big voice, stunning good looks, and inspirational story. Donald began singing at age 7. His parents were both noted opera singers in their own right. His mother, Jane, at one time was offered a spot on a Broadway show and had to turn it down. The person who ended up replacing her was – Julie Andrews. So Donald was raised in the entertainment business and was performing locally before graduating high school. He had a leaning toward acting but faced the struggles of most young people in entering that competitive environment.

His wife, Julie, encouraged him to apply to the renowned Juilliard School in New York City. He did so, to humor her, never believing he would be one of the few selected. To his surprise he was not only accepted but given scholarships. After graduation this remarkable tenor won The Liederkranz Foundation Vocal Competition and an artist’s grant from the Licia Albanese–Puccini Foundation International Vocal Competition, which gave him the privilege to study briefly with the great Franco Corelli and become a student of Franco Bertacci. He began playing the great opera houses of the world to great acclaim and saw himself as the next Pavarotti.

His fast-rising opera career, however, was cut short in 1995 when he was struck by a car while bicycling in Wales, where he was on tour. He had severe soft-tissue injuries to his throat, upper chest and upper back. Doctors told him he would never sing again and might never speak normally. Relying on his faith, it took nearly 2 years of hard work and determination to regain his speech and another 11 before he auditioned on the professional stage again with America’s Got Talent in 2007. He spent the intervening years supporting his family in mainstream jobs like selling insurance and cars.

Julie initiated his application to America’s Got Talent, who, not surprising, accepted him. Viewers nationwide were enchanted by his composure during his audition, when he turned an ugly booing audience into a cheering one with his rendition of Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up”. His dreams of returning to the stage were dashed again, when judges voted him out of the competition in the cut to 40 competitors. Fans were appalled at the judges’ decision and succeeded in voting Donald back into the show as a wild card. The public kept him all the way to the final top five where he took 4th place in September 2008.

Since then, he has wowed audiences at three benefit concerts in San Antonio and at Christmas show on TBN. Last month, he mesmerized a sold-out crowd of 1600 people at the Las Vegas Hilton. Noted PBS promoter, Diane Bliss, took an interest and on March 15th he will be performing live on PBS in Detroit. When the response from viewers goes as anticipated, PBS will present him in a nationwide special with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. In the meantime, March 21 he is launching a North American concert tour in Asheville, NC.

Donald has a great desire to use his talent to help others. His benefit concert for the homeless of San Antonio was standing room only. He plans inspirational speaking engagements in his concert tour locales. Donald is a testament to the powers of the human spirit in difficult times and he inspires all who come to know him.

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