What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of a singer? For most people, it brings about an image of a celebrity, living the high life and playing for crowds of thousands of people. For those individuals, fame is everything and without it, they just wouldn’t be the same. It is little wonder, therefore, that we see so many people trying to gain their moment of fame on the TV talent shows, such as the X Factor or The Voice. People are desperate for recognition and they will go out of there way to gain it.
As you are about to see, that isn’t always the case. You can sometimes find talent in the most unexpected places and in this case, it was found on the streets. It wasn’t a street performer who was in the subway station, it was a homeless man with bushy gray hair. He was sitting beside a friend, who was playing the guitar and he was singing the song ‘Hallelujah’ in the most beautiful way imaginable.
We have become accustomed to seeing homeless people living on the streets and they are often looking for a handout to help them get through the day. They will even sometimes work all day for a place to stay at night. This man is also homeless but he is doing something to help others who are in a similar situation.
The man’s name is Herbie Russ and you would expect to spot him pushing his trolly or looking for food in the garbage. He and his guitarist friend are in the middle of the city and they decide to give a concert along a busy street. When Herbie sings ‘Hallelujah’, his voice is so beautiful that it makes people stop in their tracks. People were moved to give him a few dollars for what he was doing.
When he got the money, he didn’t just put it into his pocket. He earns money by singing and then gives it away to other homeless individuals in the community.
Herbie Russ is actually a professional songwriter, producer, and singer. You have probably heard him singing in commercials by AT&T, General Motors and Ford. He even sang ‘Home Again’ at Comerica Park.
You might be wondering why he is acting like a homeless man. It is because of his story. When he was only a teenager, he was kicked out of his home and survived by singing and sleeping anywhere he could.
Herbie eventually decided to turn to religion and he was looking for direction. That is when he found a homeless shelter that allowed him to sing and play music. He was turned down but he didn’t give up. He used the money from various gigs to build up that shelter into something better.
As he started getting paid better for the gigs he was doing, he was still helping the homeless. He now is booked for many shows but he still sticks to his roots to keep himself grateful for what he has in life. It is a good reminder for all of us.
You can see him singing in this video:
