Raymond Salgado, a Vancouver Island local, will be heading to the final round of Canada’s Got Talent.
Lantzville local Raymond Salgado, 24, wowed audiences this week with his rendition of “Feeling Good,” a popular jazz ballad famously sung by the greats like Nina Simone and Michael Bublé.
Following Tuesday’s performance, Salgado received widespread support from voters across Canada to take one of two remaining spots in the final bracket of winners who will get to go to the last round of competition.
He’s slated to go on to the show’s two-hour live finale later this month in Niagara Falls, where he’ll vie for the $150,000 grand prize and a chance to perform in the TV show’s feature segment, America’s Got Talent Presents: SUPERSTARS Live, later this year in Las Vegas. He is one of eight finalists remaining in the show.
Popular support uplifted Salgado through to the semi-final after last month’s episode, when he sang Bryan Adam’s “Heaven” and took home approval from all four judges.
Voting is currently closed but will re-open following the show’s next episode, Tuesday, May 16.
Following his performance May 9 he received a standing ovation. Across the board, the Canada’s Got Talent team praised his ability.
Lilly Singh told Raymond that his time had finally come, following a previous go at the American version of the show where he was unsuccessful.
“I enjoyed that so much. Let me make it real clear, your authentic self is incredible, you need to serve it up daily — because we’re all better for it,” Singh said.
“I think you’re an amazing singer,” Howie Mandell told Salgado. “If I’m going to be totally honest, to me, that was really schmaltzy. It felt like I was on a cruise.”
Mandell’s feedback was met with disappointment and uproar from the crowd.
Salgado’s next performance can be watched live, on Canada’s Got Talent’s next episode — Tuesday, on CityTV, at 5 p.m. PST.
Roger Collins
