Las Vegas Weekly

September 16, 2010 · 9:52 AM

L.V. musician Michael Grimm wins $1 million on America’s Got Talent

By Robin Leach

Michael Grimm.

Photo: Courtesy

New $1 million America’s Got Talent winner Michael Grimm was a Las Vegas musician a year ago struggling for recognition, building a local fan following and playing for a few dollars a night in local bars. Now, Michael will headline on The Strip and follow in the footsteps of Season 2 AGT winner and The Mirage’s $100 million headliner Terry Fator.

Michael, who is well-known around the local bar and music scene here, performed at Green Valley Ranch, and my friend and Palms Place spa masseuse Cara Addis insisted on taking me to hear him. She predicted that he would be a big name star headliner, and she was right! Cara even threw her birthday party at Ovation Lounge so that he would be the party entertainer.

Cara told me this morning: “I’m thrilled he won. He deserved to win. He is the nicest guy and such an extraordinary and unique talent. He’s just passionate about his music, and it shows in every performance large or small, network TV or local bar. He loves to sing and play.”

In addition to playing solo or with a group of friends, Michael also has performed in special events with Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns. Michael, 30, who with his sister was raised by his Mississippi grandparents after his parents’ divorce, plans to use part of his $1 million win to buy them a new home after they lost nearly everything in Hurricane Katrina.

“My grandparents don’t have to worry about anything anymore. I can’t put into words what that means to me. They’ve supported me in the music through the years, and they've seen me fall and get back up and keep going. Now I can take care of them,” he said moments after his upset win on NBC last night.

Judge Piers Morgan said: “He’ll have a huge career. He’s like a young Van Morrison. He’s sincere. He’s talented, and he got better with every round. He gave the performance of his life for the win. Well deserved.”

Onstage after host Nick Cannon announced that Michael had edged 10-year-old opera singer Jackie Evancho, Michael said: “Is this really happening?” And then he let out a huge “yes!” He told People backstage: “I really thought Jackie had it in the bag. I was preparing my speech to leave. I couldn’t believe it. I heard my name. This was definitely an out-of-body experience. This whole journey has been -- but especially now.”

Michael has reportedly been bouncing around in the Las Vegas Valley since 2000 playing bars, lounges and steakhouses, including GVR for the past two years. He had been turned down at previous AGT auditions, as well as Fox’s American Idol, all the time honing his craft and believing that he would hit it big at some point.

Piers, who is set to take over Larry King’s CNN primetime talk show, said about the runner-up: “Jackie will have a superstar career. She is the new Susan Boyle. Everyone assumed Susan would win Britain’s Got Talent, and she finished second. She’s gone on to sell millions of albums, and so will Jackie.”

While Michael has his Las Vegas-made CDs available for Internet download, Jackie will start recording her new holiday album next week before they both headline with host Jerry Springer at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace on Oct. 8. I’ve also reliably heard that there’s a six-figure offer already on the table for Jackie to make her own solo debut here in November.

Vegas DeLuxe congratulates our new hometown hero Michael -- and Jackie, too.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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