Daniel Chettoe, then 15 years old, appeared to be a typical calm Lancashire youngster when he entered the Britain’s Got Talent stage in 2015. He told the judges, his hands clasped, that he enjoyed old-style tunes and vintage music, but nothing prepared them for what was about to happen.
Daniel selected “Cry Me a River” in the Ella Fitzgerald manner, a smoky jazz standard that is difficult for many adults to do. The room froze as soon as he opened his mouth. A rich, velvety crooner’s voice that sounded like it belonged to someone many decades older emerged from this adolescent. Later, David Walliams laughed and said, “The good news is your voice is definitely broken,” while Simon Cowell joked that Daniel had “swallowed a 60-year-old man who’s singing for you.”
He grew more assured as he continued to sing, moving through the tune with genuine swing and authority. Midway through the song, the audience shifted from being inquisitive to applauding, obviously enjoying the old-soul sound coming from such a young face. By the last note, Daniel had the judges and audience fully on his side and easily advanced to the next round, revealing his “big surprise.”
