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LEHI — Move over Susan Boyle: Utahn Luis Meneghin brought "America's Got Talent" audience and the judges to their feet Tuesday night.
KSL first covered Meneghin in 2007. As a registered nurse, he not only cared for his patients at Aspen Ridge Rehab Center, but sang to them every day.
"It just kind of got started by him just wanting to sing ' happy birthday' to one of our patients and the patient said, you are so good, we need to do more of this," said Kenny Frasure, Administrator of the Aspen Ridge Rehab Center.
He immigrated from Brazil in 1992 to study nursing at BYU. He is a self-taught singer.
"I start listening to Pavarotti, Bocelli, just fell in love with their songs. Then I start buying their CDs, singing along and learning the lyrics and practicing," he said.
Many suggested he take his golden tenor tones to an audition for "America's Got Talent." After saving money for six months, he did just that on Tuesday.
First the audience, then the judges rose with applause. The only sad note is that Luis had hoped his father who introduced him to classical music would watch his performance. But he died last year.
In the embrace of his wife and daughter, 54-year-old Luis Meneghin from Lehi, Utah, is on his way.
