Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel: Steven Baker, Simon Franglen (keyboards, programming). |  | Audio Mixer: Jon Bailey. |  | Ensemble: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. |  | Arranger: Simon Franglen. |  | Best known for winning the 2008 season of the reality television contest AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, Neal E. Boyd was actually an experienced singer prior to his appearance on the show. The silky voiced tenor makes good use of his dues-paying here, delivering a confident set of familiar pop and opera standards that is imbued with an obvious love of music which transcends his impressive technique. Producer Simon Franglen (who also worked with Celine Dion) wisely chooses sympathetic orchestral backing that lets Boyd's expressive pipes and keen sense of dynamics take center stage on classic fare such as "God Bless the USA," "Ave Maria," and "Somewhere." Throughout, the ex-insurance salesmen proves to be a gifted interpretive singer, giving the familiar material new life with his humble, alternately fragile and powerful readings, and the sheer force of his charming personality. | Producer: Simon Franglen | Engineer: Nick Cervonaro; Darren Hall; Jon Bailey; Jan Holzner |
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