Neal E. Boyd#Discography

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{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Neal E. Boyd

| image =Neal Boyd 08-10-08.jpg

| caption =Boyd signing an autograph

| image_size =

| background = solo_singer

| birth_date = {{birth date|1975|11|18}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|2018|6|10|1975|11|18}}

| death_place=Sikeston, Missouri

| birth_place = Sikeston, Missouri

| instruments = Vocals

| genre = Operatic pop, classical crossover

| occupations = Singer

| years_active = 2008–2018

| label = Decca (2009–2018)

| associated_acts =

}}

Neal Evans Boyd (November 18, 1975 – June 10, 2018) was an American singer who developed an interest in opera after listening to the performances of the Three Tenors. Despite being raised in conditions of poverty within the U.S. state of Missouri, he achieved a degree in music and eventually entered the third season of America's Got Talent, winning that year's competition. In addition to music, he also became involved in politics and conducted performances at many state-wide events across Missouri.

Boyd died in June 2018, following complications brought on in his battle against liver disease. His funeral included tributes to his performance, including clips from his participation on America's Got Talent.

Early life and education

Boyd was born in Sikeston, Missouri, in 1975 and grew up there. His father is black, and his mother is white. Boyd and his brother were raised solely by their mother and subsequently endured poverty conditions.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/My-American-Dream-Neal-Boyd/dp/B001WT3EF6|title=Neal E. Boyd - My American Dream - Amazon.com Music|work=amazon.com}} Boyd discovered operatic music in junior high school when his older brother was doing a school project involving classical music and brought home a CD of the Three Tenors. Boyd was so taken by the trio that he started learning to sing in Luciano Pavarotti's and Plácido Domingo's operatic styles. Boyd graduated from Sikeston High School in May 1994, where he was senior class president.{{cite web|url=http://www.semissourian.com/story/1441245.html|title=seMissourian.com: Entertainment: A Neal Boyd timeline (06/30/08)|work=seMissourian.com}}{{cite web|author=Essner, Leonna|url=http://www.standard-democrat.com/story/1342810.html|title=Boyd makes name for himself in song|date=June 5, 2002|work=Sikeston Standard Democrat}} Also re-published by the Southeast Missourian as "[http://www.semissourian.com/story/1441220.html Sikeston throws a party for Neal Boyd]".

Boyd earned a bachelor's degree in speech communications from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri (May 2001), a bachelor's degree in music from the University of Missouri School of Music in Columbia, Missouri (May 2001), continued his studies at the New England Conservatory of Music and later earned a master's degree in management from the online University of Phoenix.{{cite web|url=http://www.semissourian.com/story/1899552.html|title=seMissourian.com: Local News: Candidate questionnaire: Neal E. Boyd (10/01/12)|work=seMissourian.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.semissourian.com/story/1826057.html|title=seMissourian.com: Local News: After weight loss, Boyd says 'time is now' to run for House (03/15/12)|work=seMissourian.com}} Boyd was president of the Student Senate at Southeast Missouri State University,{{cite web|url=http://www.semissourian.com/story/1762003.html|title=seMissourian.com: Local News: Singer Neal E. Boyd to run for Missouri House seat (09/13/11)|work=seMissourian.com}} where he was also a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.{{cite web|url=http://www.semo.edu/news/archive/28269.htm|title=Southeast Missouri State University|work=semo.edu|date=30 September 2023 }} While in college, Boyd interned at the state capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri.{{cite web|url=http://www.semissourian.com/story/1764132.html|title=seMissourian.com: Column: Lucas Presson ~ Southeast Missourian: The Sunday Interview: Neal E. Boyd is raising his voice|work=seMissourian.com}}

After teaching music for the 2001–2002 school year in his hometown of Sikeston, Boyd attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston to study opera.{{cite web|url =http://www.voxmagazine.com/stories/2008/05/15/holding-high-note/|title =Holding a High Note|last =Darnell|first =Kathryn|work =Vox Magazine|access-date =2008-10-01|date =2008-05-15|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://archive.today/20130205154749/http://www.voxmagazine.com/stories/2008/05/15/holding-high-note/|archive-date =2013-02-05}} This led to a role as the slave "York" in Michael Ching's World Premier Opera "Corps of Discovery, A Musical Journey," commissioned by University of Missouri.{{Citation needed|date=June 2018}}

Music career

= ''America's Got Talent'' =

While working as an insurance salesman in the spring of 2008, Boyd drove to Chicago without telling his mother or best friend, and stood in line with 20,000 people auditioning for America's Got Talent.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} For his initial audition, Boyd performed Billy Joel’s "New York State of Mind", then followed it up with Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli’s "The Prayer".{{Cite web|url=https://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine/October-2009/After-the-Ovation/|title=After the Ovation|first=Jarrett|last=Medlin|date=September 28, 2009|website=www.stlmag.com}}

Boyd began appearing in national commercials weeks before the season started in June. During his time in Los Angeles, Boyd lived in the Sheraton Universal Hotel. He went to work each day at CBS Studio Center, located in the Studio City district of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Boyd later sang "Nessun dorma" in front of an AGT audience, which the crowd stood and cheered midway through.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} The judges advanced him to Las Vegas. On October 1, 2008, five contestants remained: Boyd, piano player Eli Mattson, violin duo Nuttin' But Stringz, classical music vocalist Donald Braswell and soul singer Queen Emily. The audience was filled with Boyd's friends and family (some of whom were watching at home), the other finalists (Top 5 and Top 10), and 12.5 million people were watching the live broadcast.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Boyd performed "Nessun dorma" again to end the season, after being announced the winner. His hero Plácido Domingo congratulated Boyd via video, saying: "By taking part in America's Got Talent, you have brought to America's ears opera."{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

== Performances and results ==

class="wikitable"

! Week

! Theme

! Song choice

! Original artist/composer

! Performance order

! Result

Audition

| Inspiration

| "Nessun dorma"

| Puccini

| Final (Episode 1)

| Advanced

Vegas Verdicts

| Classical Singers

| "Unchained Melody"

| Todd Duncan

| Advanced

Top 40

| Group 1

| "Somewhere"

| Leonard Bernstein

| 10

| Advanced

Top 20

| Group 1
Heroes

| "Mama"

| Il Divo

| 7

| Advanced

Top 10

| Inspirations

| "All by Myself"

| Eric Carmen

| 8

| Advanced

Top 5

| Finals

| "Nessun dorma"

| Puccini

| 3

| Winner

= Post-''AGT'' =

File:Neal E. Boyd Performing.jpg

Boyd was awarded the $1-million prize and a headline show at the MGM Grand Las Vegas hosted by Jerry Springer.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-15 |title=Who Won America's Got Talent — and Where Are They Now? |url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/americas-got-talent-winners-now |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=NBC Insider Official Site |language=en-US}}

In October 2008, his hometown declared the month of October "Neal E. Boyd Month".{{cite web|url =http://www.standard-democrat.com/story/1464691.html|title = October declared Neal E. Boyd month in Sikeston |date=September 25, 2008|publisher = Sikeston Standard Democrat |access-date = 2008-10-01}} Two months later, he was a special guest performer on NBC's holiday special “Christmas in Rockefeller Center."{{cite web |url=https://www.semissourian.com/story/1477614.html|title=Subscription required|website= www.semissourian.com|access-date=2020-06-17}} and later signed to Decca Records and released his debut album, My American Dream, on June 23, 2009 (the day of AGT's season 4 premiere). It debuted at No. 195 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 on the Top Classical Albums Chart.{{Citation needed|date=June 2018}} In July 2009, Boyd then went on a ten-city tour from Dallas to D.C. with Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts and was a guest performer on several television shows, including Today and Live with Regis and Kelly.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

In 2010, he headlined a second Las Vegas show at the Las Vegas Hilton, which also included other performers from the AGT's third season, like Eli Mattson, Kaitlyn Maher, Queen Emily and Nuttin' But Stringz.[https://lasvegasweekly.com/blogs/luxe-life/2010/feb/16/photo-gallery-neal-boyd-brings-down-las-vegas-hilt/#/0]{{dead link|date=June 2020}} His dressing room was the dressing room of Elvis Presley. On March 10 of that year, Boyd performed for U.S. President Barack Obama while he visited Missouri.{{cite web|url=http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=197592|title=Missourian Neal E. Boyd to perform for President Obama during visit|work=ksdk.com}}[http://www.semissourian.com/story/1616796.html "Singer Neal E. Boyd looking forward to meeting president at St. Louis event" (March 9, 2010) Southeast Missourian] He also performed for Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

File:Neal E. Boyd and Peter Kinder.jpg

Boyd was the co-owner of Cox & Boyd Insurance Solutions, an insurance agency with locations in St. Louis and Sikeston, Missouri, and the vice president of sales for Voluntary Benefit Services, also located in St. Louis.{{Citation needed|date=June 2018}}

Politics

In addition to music, Boyd was motivated throughout his life by public service and community involvement. After performing for Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, Boyd also sang for seven governors.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Beginning in 1996, he was among the young people who worked for eight-term congressman Bill Emerson and then for congresswoman JoAnn Emerson. He sang at Emerson's funeral that year.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

In 1998, Boyd was selected for the Missouri Legislative Internship Program and moved to Jefferson City where he worked for State Representative Paula Carter. He was elected Speaker of the House in the interns’ legislative session.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

In 2000, he sang at the memorial service for former Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan, who died in a plane crash during his U.S. Senate run against then senator and later U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, whom he later worked for when he was a senator at the time.

In 2003, he was a guest of the Emerson family and part of the delegation and ceremonial opening of the new $100 million Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge. He sang the national anthem at the ceremony, and afterwards was one of the first Missourians to cross the new bridge in the parade that followed.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

In 2005, he sang the National Anthem at the inauguration of Missouri Governor Matt Blunt, who appointed Boyd to two of Missouri's commissions: the Workforce Development Board and the Training and Employment Council.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

He ran for a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives in 2012,{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a340389/americas-got-talent-winner-neal-e-boyd-to-run-for-missouri-legislature/|title='AGT' winner Neal E Boyd to run for office|first=Justin|last=Harp|date=September 14, 2011|website=Digital Spy}} but lost to Democrat Steve Hodges by 66 to 34%.{{cite news| title=Hodges wins Mo. House seat in 149th District |url=http://www.kfvs12.com/story/20025256/hodges-wins-mo-house-seat-in |first=Amber |last=Ruch |publisher=KVFS |date=November 7, 2012}} On August 28, 2012, Boyd performed Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida.{{Cite journal |last=Deaville |first=James |date=Summer 2015 |title=The Sound of Media Spectacle: Music at the Party Conventions[1] |journal=Music and Politics |volume=IX |issue=2 |doi=10.3998/mp.9460447.0009.205 |hdl=2027/spo.9460447.0009.205 |issn=1938-7687|doi-access=free |hdl-access=free }}

On September 5, 2013, Boyd announced that he would again seek to be elected to the Missouri House of Representatives from the 149th district in 2014. He was defeated in the August 2014 Republican primary by Don Rone, who won the seat in the November general election.{{Citation needed|date=June 2018}}

Various Missouri state and local officials nicknamed Boyd "The Voice of Missouri" due to his appearances at many prominent statewide events.

{{cite web|url = http://www.semissourian.com/article/20080701/ARTS04/868609906/-1/nealboyd|title =Neal Boyd timeline|access-date = 2008-10-01}}

Philanthropy

Boyd donated to many charitable causes, and created a permanent legacy at his alma mater, Southeast Missouri State University. In 2015, to celebrate his education and experience and to support future students, he created the Neal E. Boyd Endowed Scholarship in Performing Arts. The scholarship is awarded annually to a student majoring in performing arts who meets a GPA requirement and demonstrates financial need. Preference is given to students involved in leadership activities such as Greek Life and the Student Government Association. As an alumnus Boyd was a recipient of the university's "Distinguished Service Award."{{Cite web|url=https://semo.academicworks.com/donors/neal-boyd|title=Neal Boyd - Student Financial Services|website=semo.academicworks.com}}

Death and tributes

File:Neal Celebration of Life.jpg

On the night of June 10, 2018, Neal E. Boyd died at the age of 42 at his mother's home in Sikeston, due to a combination of heart failure and kidney failure, compounded by liver disease according to a spokesperson from the Scott County coroner's office.{{cite web |url=https://www.semissourian.com/story/2565715.html|title=Subscription required|website= www.semissourian.com|access-date=June 17, 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/12/neal-e-boyd-opera-singer-americas-got-talent-dies|title=Neal E Boyd, opera singer who won America's Got Talent, dies aged 42|newspaper=The Guardian|author=Ben Beaumont-Thomas|access-date=June 12, 2018}}

The following day, NBC said in a statement via America's Got Talent: "We are very saddened to hear that one of our 'AGT family members', Neal E. Boyd, has passed away. Our hearts are with Neal’s loved ones during this difficult time." Former AGT Judge Piers Morgan expressed his sadness at the news, sharing a photo of him on Twitter with Boyd following his win on the third season and writing: "Very sad to hear...(He was a) Lovely guy with a wonderful voice."{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

A private funeral was held on June 15, 2018. On June 17, ten years after Boyd auditioned for AGT, the Southeast Missourian newspaper published an editorial titled "Neal Boyd blessed us all with his God-given talent." It concluded with: "Boyd lived a short life, but he left behind a legacy of making the most of his God-given talent through hard work, dedication and passion. He used his gifts to inspire and lift others and will be greatly missed."{{cite web |url=https://www.semissourian.com/story/2531837.html|title=Subscription required|website= www.semissourian.com|date=19 June 2018 |access-date=2020-06-17}}

A complete obituary ran in the Southeast Missourian on November 10, 2018{{cite web |url=https://www.semissourian.com/story/2565715.html|title=Subscription required|website= www.semissourian.com|access-date=2020-06-17}} and an obituary ran in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the following day{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=neal-e-boyd&pid=190712066|title=Neal Boyd - Obituary|website=Legacy.com }} just ahead of the public memorial service.

On November 18, on what would have been Boyd's 43rd birthday, friends and family gathered for a public memorial inside Academic Hall on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. The celebration included testimony from the former Missouri lieutenant governor Peter Kinder, a video clip of Boyd from America's Got Talent, music from his albums, a live performance, personal stories, and an audio recording he made about what he would want to say to family and friends if he had to say goodbye.{{cite web |url=https://www.semissourian.com/story/2567509.html|title=Subscription required|website= www.semissourian.com|access-date=2020-06-17}}

In February 2019, Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts reminded viewers about the legacy of Boyd, after his performance of "Nessun dorma" on America's Got Talent: The Champions. Host Terry Crews said: "Now, Paul, I understand you have someone really special you'd love to dedicate your performance to tonight." Potts replied: "There is an America’s Got Talent winner that isn’t here tonight: Neal E. Boyd. Like me, he came on as an underdog, he gave his all (gave us all his story) and he won (with his heart), and one thing you could never take away is the fact that he is a champion. He is a winner."{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/agt-champions-paul-potts-dedicates-finals-performance-neal-boyd/|title=Paul Potts Dedicates His Finals Performance to Late AGT Winner Neal Boyd: 'Opera Belongs to Everyone'|website=PEOPLE.com}}

Discography

= Albums =

class="wikitable"
rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Album ! colspan="4"\| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"\| Certifications (sales threshold)
style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="35"\| US ! width="35"\| US Class ! width="35"\| US Heat ! width="35"\| Year End Class
2009 \| My American Dream{{cite web\|url= http://www.deccarecords-us.com/nealeboyd/releases/\|title=Neal E. Boyd\|publisher=Decca Records\|access-date=2009-06-19}} Label: Decca Released: June 23, 2009 Format: CD, digital download \|align="center"\| 195 \|align="center"\| 3 \|align="center"\| 10 \|align="center"\| 29 \| align="left"\| US sales: 6,000{{Cite web\|url=http://mizzoumag.missouri.edu/2010-summer/features/neal-boyd/index.php\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619152553/http://mizzoumag.missouri.edu/2010-summer/features/neal-boyd/index.php\|url-status=dead\|title="Catch up with singer Neal E. Boyd, winner of America's Got Talent" (Summer 2010) Mizzou\|archive-date=June 19, 2010}}

class="wikitable"

rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Album

! colspan="4"| Peak chart positions

! rowspan="2"| Certifications
(sales threshold)

style="font-size:smaller;"

! width="35"| US

! width="35"| US Class

! width="35"| US
Heat

! width="35"| Year End
Class

2009

| My American Dream{{cite web|url= http://www.deccarecords-us.com/nealeboyd/releases/|title=Neal E. Boyd|publisher=Decca Records|access-date=2009-06-19}}

Label: Decca
Released: June 23, 2009
Format: CD, digital download

|align="center"| 195

|align="center"| 3

|align="center"| 10

|align="center"| 29

| align="left"|

US sales: 6,000{{Cite web|url=http://mizzoumag.missouri.edu/2010-summer/features/neal-boyd/index.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619152553/http://mizzoumag.missouri.edu/2010-summer/features/neal-boyd/index.php|url-status=dead|title="Catch up with singer Neal E. Boyd, winner of America's Got Talent" (Summer 2010) Mizzou|archive-date=June 19, 2010}}

= Singles =

class="wikitable"
rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Single ! colspan="1"\| Peak ! rowspan="2"\| Album
style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="40"\| US
2009 \| "God Bless the U.S.A." {{Citation needed\|date=June 2018}} \|align="center"\| – \| My American Dream

class="wikitable"

rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Single

! colspan="1"| Peak

! rowspan="2"| Album

style="font-size:smaller;"

! width="40"| US

2009

| "God Bless the U.S.A." {{Citation needed|date=June 2018}}

|align="center"| –

| My American Dream

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20140208175323/http://nealeboydformissouri.com/ Neal E. Boyd's political website]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080927025310/http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/contestants/neal_boyd.shtml NBC Show Profile]
{{C-SPAN|9273472}}

{{succession box|title=America's Got Talent winner|before=Terry Fator|after=Kevin Skinner

|years=Season 3 (Summer 2008)}}

Category:1975 births

Category:2018 deaths

Category:20th-century American male opera singers

Category:21st-century African-American male singers

Category:21st-century American male singers

Category:African-American male opera singers

Category:America's Got Talent winners

Category:American tenors

Category:Singers from Missouri

Category:Opera crossover singers