In this photo taken in late December, 2010, Ted Williams holds a sign advertising his smooth radio voice near a highway ramp in Columbus, Ohio. Williams, who is homeless, became an online video sensation when the Columbus Dispatch posted a video of him speaking in his deep baritone voice on its website this week. The Cleveland Cavaliers contacted him on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011 to offer him an announcing job.* * * * * * * * * *
Williams was born and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. According to his mother, his father named him after the all-star baseball player of the same name who was his favorite player at the time. He is a father to nine children: seven girls and two boys. Williams served three years in the United States Army, was honorably discharged, and attended school for voice acting. His inspiration to become a radio announcer came from a field trip at age 14, when he found that a radio announcer who he had heard looked nothing like he had imagined. Williams had experience as a radio disc jockey before. He worked some overnight shifts for WVKO (AM) in Columbus when the station played soul music. Williams stated that around 1993, cocaine, crack and alcohol abuse complicated his career and led to his then-current state of homelessness. He says he has been clean and sober since mid-2008.
A video was recorded in Columbus, Ohio at the Hudson Street off-ramp of Interstate 71 (40°00′54″N 82°59′42″W / 40.015063°N 82.994941°W / 40.015063; -82.994941), and posted at the Columbus Dispatch's website on January 3, 2011 by Doral Chenoweth, a videographer for the paper. It was reposted to YouTube, and within one day it had been viewed millions of times. Williams' story also garnered a large following on the social news websites, with many users pledging donations of money, clothes, and job offers. On January 5, 2011, Williams appeared on the "Dave and Jimmy Show" on WNCI and was interviewed (since clean shaven and hair cut) by The Early Show on CBS.He was interviewed on Today, January 6, doing the lead-in voice over, revealing that he was to have an interview to do voice overs for Kraft Foods.
On January 5, 2011, Williams attempted to fly to New York to reunite with his 90-year old (92 year old according to other news sources mother. However, TSA did not allow him to do so since Williams lacked the proper identification material required to enter an aircraft. Williams eventually did arrive at the airport in New York, but according to some reports, was escorted away from the media, whom his mother was among. Williams, through the intervention of Today and The Early Show, was able to reunite with his mother the following daySince his story hit news, he has been offered several jobs.
On January 5, the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball team offered him a job and a house. The offer calls for Williams to do full-time voiceover work with the Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena. Williams responded, "That’s the best deal ever!"
Also on January 7, Williams was officially hired by MSNBC to provide voiceovers for the network. Williams was also hired to be the voice behind Kraft Foods' new TV campaign due to launch January 9 during the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl on ESPN.
On January 5, the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball team offered him a job and a house. The offer calls for Williams to do full-time voiceover work with the Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena. Williams responded, "That’s the best deal ever!"
Also on January 7, Williams was officially hired by MSNBC to provide voiceovers for the network. Williams was also hired to be the voice behind Kraft Foods' new TV campaign due to launch January 9 during the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl on ESPN.
