'America's Got Talent' Auditions: Sal Gonzalez Inspires With Bill Withers Cover & Wounded Warrior Message On NBC Competition [VIDEO]
This season NBC's America's Got Talent has seen a number of talented veterans perform, and last week Sal Gonzalez was added to that list.
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Gonzalez had joined the Marines as a machine gunner right out of high school in 2004 and served in Iraq for two months before losing a portion of his left leg in an explosion. He now works for The Wounded Warrior Project.
"Having music as a tool for my recovery I was able to put down and let go of a lot of pain," explained Gonzalez, "It kept me going. It kept me alive".
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Before even opening his mouth to sing the audience rose to their feet and applauded Gonzalez for his courage and dedication. The expectation was high before he began, but as he sang Bill Wither's Ain't No Sunshine Gonzalez proved to have the talent as well as the passion.
"You are really, really good..." said judge Howie Mandel after the performance. "I'm truly moved."
The other judges echoed Mandel's enthusiasm, calling the former Marine "very talented" and someone with a lot of "passion."
"I've been singing since I could speak..." Gonzalez told them, "And I want to show other warriors that it's possible to follow your dreams and be normal."
When all four judges voted the singer through to the next round, Gonzalez jumped into the air and thanked them.
America's Got Talent continues on NBC Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
