'America's Got Talent' Auditions: 84-Year-Old Man Called 'A Breath Of Fresh Air' After Performing Catchy, Unexpected Tune [VIDEO]
When 84-year-old Ray Jessel stepped onto NBC's America's Got Talent stage last week, the audience saw an endearing old man.
Brothers Put Rock Spin On Cello Act For 'America's Got Talent'
Jessel informed the judges that he was a singer, having begun performing only ten years before. He sat down at a keyboard to share an original song, and what started as a delightful little love tune suddenly took an unexpected turn.
After some charming fumbling with the microphone and a few clever jokes, Jessel began.
In the song, Jessel spoke of a wonderful woman perfect for him in every way, except the fact that she had a penis. The audience was shocked and amused at both the song and to hear the word 'penis' from a man of his age. However, Jessel's turn of phrase managed to quickly win them over. The judges, who proved skeptical when he first appeared onstage, quickly warmed to the singer/songwriter.
"I like to write catchy tunes," explained Jessel after the performance. When asked if the story was true, Jessel claimed that the tale of a man falling for a woman and then discovering that the woman had male genitalia happened to "a friend of his".
"You're funny and witty and personable," declared judge Howie Mandel, who rose to his feet during the applause. "I can't see enough of you".
"I'm really thinking you're a breath of fresh air..." agreed Howard Stern, "Good for you. You think 84-year-old guys have lost their sense of humor, you have it".
Upon receiving a "yes" from all four judges voting him into the next round, the audience erupted into a roar of cheers.
America's Got Talent continues into the next round of eliminations Tuesday on NBC at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
