SAINT-RAYMOND-DE-PORTNEUF – Americans can’t get enough of teen sensation David Thibault.
The Elvis impersonator was discovered at a talent show in Quebec City last month by a local D.J. She put his tune on YouTube and in a matter of days, it drew more than 7 million hits.
“The response was strong really fast,” said CKOI Quebec owner Jean-François Leclerc. “He was shocked, it was difficult last week. I think he took time to rest and now he has fun. He just realized what’s happening to him.”
What’s happening to him is a whirlwind tour of Los Angeles, where he’s set to appear on big American shows like Ellen. Leclerc said he’s been fielding calls from all over the world, with everyone wanting a piece of the new Internet sensation.
“He’s already reached the number 1 position on the holiday songs chart across North America and he’s number 18 on the charts from across the United States and Canada for his song Blue Christmas…David Thibault…it’s something really amazing right now,” added Leclerc.
In his hometown of St-Raymond-de-Portneuf, about 40 kilometres north-west of Quebec City, his music teacher explained the teen has risen from zero to hero.
“He struggled with his voice at first,” Jacques Turgeon told Global News. He had a few setbacks but he learned how to play the guitar and now he’s coming into his own.
“When he came to the school this Tuesday, there were some girls that met him in the hallway and they were crying as if it was the real Elvis Presley,” said École Louis-Jobin Principal Frédéric Pagé.
The soft-spoken teen with the velvety voice hasn’t hit the Canadian television networks yet. That’s because he signed an embargo with Ellen DeGeneres’ show.
“The embargo makes total sense,” said ET Canada Senior Reporter Roz Weston. “When you become Internet famous or viral famous, you sit by the phone and wait for one or two calls: you wait for Jimmy Kimmel or you wait for Ellen Degeneres because they’re the ones who can take you from internet famous to world famous.”
With a single out this week and several American television appearances scheduled, prepare to see more of Thibault in the months to come.
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