Herbie Armstrong’s incredibly poignant Britain’s Got Talent audition demonstrated that it’s never too late to pursue your goals. Herbie, 66, revealed that he had worked behind the scenes as a session guitarist for other musicians for the most of his life. He had been in the music business for decades, but he had never succeeded as a frontman. After abandoning music to manage a restaurant and bar, he ultimately concluded that this was his “last shot” to emerge from the shadows and perform as himself.
When Herbie started performing an original tune, the audition took an intriguing turn. The judges thought the song didn’t fully showcase his voice, even though they were impressed by his talent. The panel asked him if he had another song that the audience could be more familiar with, which is an uncommon move. After that, Herbie moved into a heartfelt performance of “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You,” which instantly struck a chord with the audience. The judges were clearly struck by the new and emotional viewpoint he gave to the classic song with his rich, raspy tone and “Celtic soul.”
The judges’ comments were unanimously complimentary, with Michael McIntyre stating that he has the name and flair of a great star and Louis Walsh applauding his amazing tone. Herbie received three enthusiastic “yes” votes despite his initial nervousness because of his genuineness and commitment. His accomplishment was a potent reminder that talent never goes out of style and that sometimes all it takes is one courageous move to turn someone from an underdog into the star.
