A viral video is helping to make a star out of Ted Williams, a homeless man who solicits money by the side of Interstate 71 in Columbus, Ohio, with a sign advertising his “God-given gift” of an amazing radio voice.  Williams first caught the attention of a reporter for the Columbus Dispatch who interviewed him and posted the video online Tuesday.

Williams, a Brooklyn native, was blessed with a smooth, polished voice and has dreams of becoming an announcer on radio.  “I just said, well, hey. I can’t be an actor, I can’t be an on-air personality, but the voice just became something of a development over the years and I went to school for it,” Williams says.  “And then alcohol and drugs and a few other things became a part of my life. I’ve got two years clean, and I’m trying hard to get it back. And hopefully somebody from one of these television or radio stations will say, ‘Hey, I need a voice-over.’”

A grassroots movement may be key to Williams’ success. On Tuesday, a listener called into the “Dave & Jimmy” morning show on WNCI with a pledge of $15,000 to help the show give Williams a job.  “We’re going to find some way to help this guy!” they announced on their show’s Facebook page.