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Seattle musician Rafe Pearlman competes in America's Got Talent
on July 21, 2012 @ 3:51 pm (Updated: 7:26 am - 7/23/12 )William Close wowed America's Got Talent judges this summer with his Earth Harp, and has recruited local musician Rafe Pearlman to help him put together another amazing act in the last rounds of the competition.
In the first round, Close won by stringing almost one thousand feet of wire together and playing the enormous Earth Harp wearing rosin-covered gloves.
Judge Howard Stern was so impressed that he led the standing ovation.
"[He] turned this whole theater into an instrument," said Stern, "That's originality! I've made my whole career on originality, and I bow to you."
But when Close reached the quarter finals, it wasn't clear how he was going to try to top his act.
Now Close has announced he is turning to longtime Seattle singer and songwriter Rafe Pearlman for inspiration.
Pearlman started singing in Seattle's grunge scene and is now known for his passionate performances at spiritual centers, rock clubs, and music festivals.
"I've been a part of Seattle and Seattle's been a part of my life for 20 years," says Pearlman, "There's no other place that I've actually spent so much time as Seattle."
Rafe and William met last year in Los Angeles and talked about collaboration, but that was about it until Rafe's roommate told him The Earth Harp was featured on America's Got Talent.
"And he was explaining to me the whole concept, and they'll have to go through a second round, and the first thing I said was, they should invite me for the second round. That would be a good move. And here, low and behold, about a month later, I get the call," says Pearlman.
Pearlman joined the Earth Harp team in New Jersey a few days ago to get ready for the all-important quarter finals live show.
"It's a minute-and-a-half, so your hope and prayer is that something special can come out for everyone, and that, obviously, that will lead to being able to do more," says Pearlman.
As for exactly what song they'll perform in the quarter-finals, he's not allowed to say. But we do know the Earth Harp team is working on their song and that Rafe is enjoying the variety of acts that make up the modern-day vaudeville that is America's Got Talent.
"You have these moments when it's like 'wow! All this talent is out there,'" says Pearlman, "And I've come feel like it is a unique place, and one of the few places like the Earth Harp and all of us could perform".
The results will boil down to their 90 seconds during the televised quarter finals. Fans will be able to vote for William, The Earth Harp, and Rafe Pearlman after the show.
You can hear Lisa Brooks every Saturday morning from 6-9 as host of Seattle's Morning News: Saturday edition. She also is a news anchor and regular feature contributor on KIRO. She joined KIRO in 2010 after 7 years with "the competition". She's now honored to contribute great stories to a fantastic team. Lisa's a big Mariner's fan, and has even had the opportunity to serve as a fill-in Public Address Announcer at the old Kingdome and Safeco Field for more than a dozen games. Biggest thrill, annoucing Ken Griffey Junior and Cal Ripken Junior's names as they came up to bat. Lisa loves volunteering in her community, and spending time with her two pooches, Dudley and Motley.
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