A look at Ben Waites' singing career, from southern churches to 'America's Got Talent'
Ben Waites' journey on "America's Got Talent" ended after he lost the Wildcard Save to comedian Jordan Conley, but he gained fans on both a national and international level after his appearance on July 12.
Started singing with Pine Ridge Quartet
The 33-year-old Ball native is a Southern Gospel singer and vocal coach who now lives in Nashville, Tenn.
Years ago, Waites started singing as a featured guest tenor with the Pine Ridge Quartet of which his grandfather Jim Waites was a member along with Clyce Lingenfelter, Owen Jordan, Jack Smith and Bud King. He regards those moments traveling with the quartet as crucial in his development.
"It was after my 10th birthday, somewhere between 10 and 11 years old is when I started," he said in a previous Town Talk interview. "The things that they taught me, of music, of God, of being a man and being a good person, a Biblical person. It was a powerful thing that I learned then and have carried with me all of these years. I'll carry it with me the rest of my life."
Tik-Tok video caught AGT's attention
Auditioning for the show came about in an unexpected way — through a TikTok video. At the time, he didn't have a Tik-Tok account.
"I've been singing for a long time, singing gospel music. And generally whenever I go to release new music, I will cut a track and then take it on the road with me just to get an idea of what it feels like on the road," said Waites.
Someone posted a video to Tik-Tok of him singing and garnered more than 600,000 views in 24 hours.
A couple of weeks later, "America's Got Talent" reached out to him to see if he would consider auditioning.
He hesitated about doing the show
"It was a lot of back and forth. A lot of hesitation for me because I didn't know if this was something I wanted to do," he said. "If this was the right move to do."
But his wife Natalie, his grandmother and mother convinced him that he should do it by telling him that he dedicated himself to God and serving Him by answering the call to music. And what better way was there to reach as many people as he can than to do this?
"So I went forward with this and started sending in videos to them from there," he said. "That was the process. That's how the initial thing kicked off."
Millions view AGT YouTube video of Waites
After hearing Waites sing "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper, the audience and the judges gave him a standing ovation. Judge Sofia Vergara was brought to tears by his performance.
The YouTube video posted by AGT of Waites audition has over 3 million views. It brought national and international attention to the 33-year-old Southern gospel singer and voice coach who resides in Nashville with his wife Natalie.
More: Ben Waites of 'America's Got Talent' to give message, sing at Pineville Church Sunday
"I’ve probably watched this video 30 times. Your audition is highlighted on all of the judge's pages! So so cool! We’re so proud of you Ben! Love you!" posted Ashley Strickland on Waites' Facebook page.
Singing and ministering
On Thursdays or Fridays and on through Sunday, which is usually his travel days, he says he's usually singing in a church, a conference, revival or homecoming.
Recently he has been back in Louisiana performing and ministering at churches in West Monroe, Pineville and Deridder.
More: 'America's Got Talent' audition fills Ben Waites with 'array of emotions'
At Christian Challenge Worship Center in Pineville, he baptized longtime friend Jack Tumlinson with the help of his mother Sonya Waites and father Darrell McClees.
Disability doesn't deter him
Waites uses a wheelchair, having been born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita.
"Interestingly for me, growing up with something like this, being born with it, it's the norm," said Waites. "It's a day to day thing. I don't give it a lot of thought which in turn means I don't talk about it a whole bunch. People typically have to ask about it.
"Ben has taken that and shown what God can do with that and through him for His glory," said Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree in a previous Town Talk article.
Future is limitless
Waites has six CDs out and he's in the process of working on a new project.
For him the future is limitless. His big goal has always been to reach as many people as possible by singing and traveling. He's even turned to technology to help by using Facebook Live and Instagram Live. And he now has a Tik-Tok account. He also has a website, benwaites.com
This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: A look at Ben Waites' singing career, from southern churches to AGT
