The story of people turning from starving artists to wildly successful musicians is nothing new. But these guys have truly had an inspiring journey.
Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix: All these musicians were dirt poor until they hit the big time.
Like those musical legends, Marcus Collins, JC Fisher and John Hagan started out with next to nothing. They lived in Texas. And their money issues made them bond and become friends.
“We were all just doing things to get by and living paycheck to paycheck.” – Marcus Collins
They were your typical blue collar kind of guys.
They would take odd jobs, but the economy of their town wasn’t too good, meaning they struggled.
But then Marcus’s work dried up completely.
This was when he had an idea, related to the friends’ favorite hobby…
Apart from money worries, they had something else that united them. It was music, singing especially.
Little did they know that this passion would elevate them from their money worries and into stardom.
The three would often sing for fun in their spare time. After a while, they decided to form a band. This band, the Texas Tenors, saw success in their hometown.
They would go from bar to bar, pleasing patrons every time.
But they set their sights higher.
They knew that one of the best ways to get noticed was to go on America’s Got Talent.
In 2009, their ambition came true.
Their musical style, which is best described as classical music meets cattle ranchers, wowed the judges.
They went through round and round, earning more and more success.
Eventually, they ended up in fourth place.
But that was just the beginning of their new career.
The judges even admitted that, despite losing the show, The Texas Tenors had what it takes to make it.
“I can just see that billboard in Las Vegas with the three cowboys!” – David Hasselhoff.
The Texas Tenors’ success has spiraled over the last decade.
They’ve performed over 1,000 concerts, sang at special Whitehouse ceremonies and even had their own PBS special.
The wider entertainment industry has also rewarded The Texas Tenors for their talent and hard work.
To date, they’ve been the recipients of three Emmy Awards. That’s a fortunate amount, as each member can keep one award to themselves.
If this weren’t good enough, they’ve even successfully branched out of music and into other creative areas. In 2015, they wrote a children’s book, named Ruckus on the Ranch.
But, unlike some musicians, they never forget where they came from.
In fact, they’re supporting their former community and career.
“We look back on our past, and we don’t take anything for granted. We’ve been trying to give back as much as we can.” – Marcus Collins
They work with Habitat for Humanity in a project called Help Build Houses, which has resulted in the construction of many homes for those in need.
And in 2019, the Texas Tenors are going back to the thing that set them to stardom.
They’re contestants in America’s Got Talent: The Champions, which pits the most successful acts to come from the show against one another.
How will they compare against the likes of Susan Boyle, Jackie Evancho and others? It remains to be seen.
But no matter what the future holds for The Texas Tenors, some things seem certain. They will almost definitely remain the best of friends, support the community and make millions happy with their music.
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