If anyone has doubts that dreams do come true, they have only to look at Terry Fator who went from total obscurity to a $100 million, five-year contact at the Mirage, the largest in Las Vegas history.
But success means more than money to the ventriloquist/impersonator extraordinaire. It’s about doing what he loves — entertaining large crowds of people and making them laugh.
After enduring an abusive childhood, years of hardship, struggle, disappointment, and rejection, doing odd jobs to make ends meet and playing small clubs and county fairs for practically nothing, Terry’s sweat, tears and sacrifice paid off on August 21, 2007 when he was crowned the winner of NBC’s hit show “America’s Got Talent.”
Since February 14, 2009, “Terry Fator and His Cast of Thousands” have mesmerized audiences as Terry does the seemingly impossible — bringing to life eight distinctly different puppets who can sing like every known artist under the sun!
Walter T. Airedale, the cocky cowboy who thinks he’s the “greatest country singer in the world,” does a perfect rendition of Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places.”
Duggie, the natural-born rocker from the sixties, performs “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns N’ Roses,” and “Sharp Dressed Man” by ZZ Top in perfect style.
Julius, the greatest soul singer to hit Las Vegas, heats things up with “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye, and “Billie Jean” by the late, great Michael Jackson
The stuttering Maynard Thompkins, who claims to be the greatest Elvis impersonator in the world even though he doesn’t know any Elvis songs, cracks people up with a comedy routine that includes “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Love Me Tender” and “Viva Las Vegas.” Maynard can also hit those Aaron Neville high notes, when he sings “I Don’t Know Much.”
Winston the Impersonating Turtle tugs at peoples’ heartstrings when he does James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend,” the Bee Gees’ “I Started a Joke,” and in wig and dark glasses he warbles Roy Orbison’s “Crying.” But most mind-boggling is when Terry and Winston do “What a Wonderful World” together, with Terry impersonating Louis Armstrong and Winston impersonating Kermit the Frog.
Audiences are spellbound as Terry demonstrates he’s also in touch with his feminine side when Emma Taylor belts out the Etta James standard “At Last.” Then there’s Vicky the Cougar who can bump and grind with the youngest of them. Vicky’s broad musical range has her singing “Gimme One Reason” by Tracy Chapman, “Sweet Dreams” by the Eurythmics, and “Don’t Cha” by the Pussycat Dolls.
There’s even a Beatle in the show who does a “Hard Day’s Night” and “Live and Let Die.”
Seeing is not necessarily believing, but seeing is pure enjoyment, so head over to the Mirage for a real holiday treat. In the meantime, you can get up close and personal with Terry Fator as he reminds us that dreams do come true if we work hard, never give up and believe in ourselves, all while giving thanks for the blessings we already have.
Marsala Rypka: Describe yourself in three words.
Terry Fator: Hyper, joyful, fun-loving. No matter what has to be done, I try to find the fun in it.
MR: Name something people would be surprised to learn about you.
TF: I carry video games in my pockets at all times. I have a Nintendo Wii in my dressing room that I play before every show to relax and clear my mind.
MR: What three people have greatly influenced your life?
TF: Number one, Jim Henson. Growing up seeing how he brought puppets to life was unprecedented. Nobody had ever done that before. The only time I ever cried for a celebrity was when he died. I wanted to meet him so bad. I wanted to make it big and tell him what an influence he was on me.
Second is Edgar Bergen, the most famous ventriloquist ever. When I was 13 or 14 I used to listen to cassette tapes and record albums of him on the radio and watch him on old TV shows. I wanted to be like him and go down in history as the most famous ventriloquist ever or at least equal him.
Third is George Lucas. I love “Star Wars.” Lucas was amazing because he grabbed hold of an idea and kept working toward it and created something that will have an appeal forever. Seeing what he did, I took his lead and said, ‘I want to be a ventriloquist,’ and when people told me that wouldn’t work, I refused to give up the dream. I kept plugging toward it, trying to improve, and I guess I showed them all, just like George Lucas.
MR: What is your greatest strength and your greatest weakness?
TF: My greatest strength is my drive. If I set my mind to something, I’ll go to any lengths to accomplish it no matter how long it takes or how much work is involved. My greatest weakness is that I’m too trusting. Since becoming successful, several people have taken advantage of me. It’s hard to learn to be more guarded and realize you can’t take everyone at their word. I want to believe everyone is honest and trustworthy, but when you get to a certain level, especially in the entertainment business, there are a lot of leeches who try to use you to get things in their own life. That’s when you hold tight to the people you’ve known for years that you trust who are perceptive about peoples’ true nature because I just can’t see it. One of my people will say ‘I think there’s something going on there,’ and I’ll say, ‘Really?’
MR: What are you most passionate about?
TF: Entertaining. It’s my life’s blood, it’s what drives me. It’s like breathing oxygen. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. I heard a psychologist on a radio show say that every great entertainer has a moment when he realizes what he wants to do in life. He was pinpointing people like Michael Jackson, Prince and Madonna, and as I was listening I remembered my exact moment. I was three years old, standing on a table in the cafeteria of our church, singing. As I looked out and saw all the adults clapping, I thought, ‘I really like this feeling.’ From then on all I wanted to do was entertain. Also, part of what drove me was the need to gain my dad’s approval.
MR: In your book, “Who’s the Dummy Now,” you describe the difficult childhood you had because of the abuse your father inflicted on you.
TF: My whole life my father told me that I was a failure, that I was bad, that I had fooled people into thinking I was talented. For years I lived in fear, terrified that when people found out the truth, it was all going to come crashing down. On the other hand, my mother was positive and she encouraged me, but that’s not the person you need the approval from. You need it from the one who doesn’t give it. Finally I realized that if I’m able to make them think I’m talented, then I am talented. I could have ended up saying, ‘I’m not a success because my father treated me so poorly and never believed in me.’ Instead I said, ‘I will not listen to you. I’m going to prove you’re wrong.’ I refused to let him tell me who I was or who I was going to be. I worked hard and I didn’t care if I ended up performing for first graders the rest of my life. I thought those kids will grow up and say they saw the best ventriloquist when they were in the first grade.
Every night people come up to me after the show and say their story is similar to mine. It’s been a hard journey and a lot of people don’t make it. I hope my being so open and honest helps people realize you can’t blame your failures on someone else. I hear through the grapevine that my dad saw me win “America’s Got Talent” and he knows about my success, which is just wonderful. I’m actually who I am in spite of him.
MR: When times were tough, you paid $100 to see Danny Gans. How did he inspire you?
TF: One hundred dollars was a small fortune for a guy like me who was barely scraping by, performing on free stages at country fairs, but I wanted to see Danny Gans because he was a fellow impersonator. I started singing when I was three, doing impressions at six and ventriloquism at 10. At 14, I had a little lion named Jackel Mickson who did Michael Jackson songs, which I thought was pretty clever. Danny was so wonderful and gifted, but I knew I had something totally unique in that I could do what Danny did without moving my mouth. I had a lot of work to do, but I thought, ‘I can do that.’ As a result I went home, put my nose to the grindstone and rewrote my entire show.
I wouldn’t be here without Danny. I only met him once and hoped we’d become friends, but it wasn’t to be. But he lives on through his influence on people like me. I hope when my time comes that I leave the same legacy and that others are inspired by my life and career. In that way we never die.
MR: When you auditioned for “AGT” in June 2007, you heard David Hasselhoff say to Sharon Osbourne, ‘Oh no, a ventriloquist.’ How did that make you feel?
TF: I wasn’t upset or worried. It was like Susan Boyle on “Britain’s Got Talent.” I knew the lower the expectation, the more amazed they would be. I had them right where I wanted them. They expected me to be horrible and I knew as soon as Emma did a perfect Etta James impression and belted out those fateful words, ‘AAAAT LAAAAAAST,’ it was going to knock their socks off, and it did. I wanted to change the prejudice most people feel toward ventriloquism and validate it as entertainment for adults as well as children. People would say, ‘Oh my kids would love that,’ and I’d say, ‘No, you don’t get it. What I do is so much more than kids’ stuff.’
MR. That’s an understatement. It’s amazing enough that you can sing like Tony Bennett, James Blunt, Michael Buble, Def Leppard, Rod Stewart, George Strait, and Hank Williams, to name just a few, but the fact that you can belt out the songs with your mouth closed is mind-boggling. How did you learn to do that?
TF: My father had a janitorial service and as kids we were the janitors. When I was vacuuming, emptying the trash or cleaning toilets I would listen to my Walkman and practice singing songs without moving my lips because I thought it was a great way to practice my ventriloquism. I didn’t realize I was setting myself up for the biggest contract in Vegas. After “AGT,” I got why people are making such a big deal out of this. I’m able to recreate the voices of some of the greatest singers that have ever lived and that I can do it without moving my lips and make it look like puppets are doing it is pretty astounding. My doctor wants to study my vocal cords. He says it goes against every rule of singing there is. The fact that I can recreate these amazing tones through a tiny crack in my mouth is almost not human. My doctor has told me many times, ‘Terry it’s impossible.’
MR: Ironically, four months before “AGT” you did a corporate event at the Rio and your agent invited three top Las Vegas show producers to come and see you. What happened?
TF: They each said, ‘This kind of act won’t work. You’ll never play Vegas.’ One guy said I wasn’t good-looking enough to be on a billboard. I was crushed. After I won “America’s Got Talent,” they contacted me and I told them I already had someone. Since then they’ve all come to see my show. It’s a great sense of satisfaction. When someone says you’re a failure, the best revenge is success. Now every time I see my billboard, I think of that guy. I’m not a vengeful person. I’m always willing to bury the hatchet if someone apologizes. If I expect God or other people to forgive me when I mess up, then I also have to forgive. You can’t hold on to bitterness, anger and resentment. It will destroy you and I refuse to do that.
MR: What makes you angry?
TF: When someone who’s not talented or someone who tries to take shortcuts, makes it big. Success should be earned. When it’s just given to you, you tend to take it for granted. I want to see someone who’s had some hard knocks, who’s worked hard, make it. It’s great that shows like “American Idol” showcase talent, but it’s only a springboard. You should never get sloppy. Some people surround themselves with “yes men” who always say, ‘great job,’ and won’t tell you that you don’t sound as good anymore or you’re not saying your words properly when you’re singing. I’ve made it clear to my staff not to ever let me get to that point. Just smack me upside the head. Luckily I’ve got a good family that has no problem saying, ‘Terry, you’re singing flat or that impression doesn’t sound good, you need to work on it, or you’re moving your lips.’ I want to stay vigilant, because people deserve a great show.
MR: Who would you trade places with for 24 hours?
TF: Al Jolson. In his heyday, he was known as the greatest entertainer in the world. He had such joy and love for his craft. One night I watched “The Jolson Story” and it was a life-changing moment. Prior to that, I’d get on stage and it felt like a job. Like anybody else, I’d say, ‘I don’t want to go to work tonight.’ After seeing the movie, I said, ‘Wait a second, I’m fortunate enough to have the gift and ability to do what I’ve always loved my whole life.’ I never dreaded a show since. I’d like to know if I remotely capture the joy he had for his craft.
MR: What is your most treasured material possession?
TF: A dummy that was given to me by a dear friend, Larry Norman, who was considered the father of Christian rock music. Growing up he was my idol. My family was very religious and we weren’t allowed to listen to any kind of non-Christian music so his was one of the very first albums I had. The first time I performed for him was at his 60th birthday party. I did about 15 minutes and then he spent 30 minutes talking about how when he was five years old, all he wanted to be was a ventriloquist and I was the best he’d ever seen. His father had bought him a little ventriloquist dummy, and although he tried, he never could do it, so he became a musician instead. We became close friends and when he passed away his family sent it to me.
MR: What five people would you invite to a dinner party?
TF: C.S. Lewis who was such a brilliant thinker. I’ve read every one of his books, including his autobiography. I’d love to sit and chat with him. J.K. Rowling. I’ve read all the Harry Potter books, many times. I don’t know much about her, except that at one time she had no money and was struggling, and now she’s the richest woman in England. I’d love to find out how the writing process happens. Jimmy Stewart, my favorite actor of all time. By far, my favorite movie is “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I watch it two or three times a year. Johnny Carson. Ed McMahon saw the show last year and said it was the most amazing thing he’d ever seen. I teared up when he said Johnny would have loved it. Sadly, Ed has passed away since then. And Jerry Lewis, who came to see me at the Mirage. We talked for about 20 minutes and he said I was a genius. It doesn’t get much better than that. I just realized all of those people are adept at creating characters, which is what I do. I create characters I hope people will fall in love with. That’s the connection.
MR: Tell us about your “Pretty Woman” experience
TF: I’d just signed my contract with the Mirage and my sunglasses were old and scratched so I found a shop in the hotel thinking they would have normal priced sunglasses. I had on jeans and a pullover and the saleswoman looked down her nose at me and said, ‘You do realize these are all very expensive sunglasses, don’t you?’ I’m thinking $300 so I turned to the salesman, who was very courteous and asked him for help. In the meantime, the snooty woman was prowling close by making her disapproval known that the salesman was wasting his time. She said, ‘Where did you get the sunglasses you have now?’ ‘Wal-Mart,’ I said truthfully and she turned and walked away. I was determined to buy something. I finally found a pair that looked great. ‘I’ll take these,’ I said loud enough for Miss Sour-Puss to hear. By now the salesman and a young salesgirl must have recognized me because they said, ‘You’re that guy we read about in the paper this morning.’ The shocked look on the snooty woman’s face was priceless. When the glasses were rung up, they were $1,700! I didn’t even know sunglasses that cost that much existed. I really wanted to say to the woman, ‘You work on commission don’t you? Big mistake, HUGE!’
MR: Describe a perfect day.
TF: The day would start slowly. I’d get up and putter around the house, have some coffee, take a hot bath, go to Disneyland with someone I love, wander around without any pressure and enjoy the wonder of the happiest place on earth. And a perfect day would have to include my doing a show. Afterwards I’d go to bed, watch television and snuggle.
MR: You didn’t mention food.
TF: Eating has never been a priority; it’s just something I do. It’s all about fun and having a kid’s mindset. I don’t ever want to grow old and get hardened, jaded or callous. I want life to always have wonder, which is why I’ll never stop believing in Santa Claus.
MR: What is your biggest regret?
TF: That some of my favorite entertainers who influenced me never got to see me perform. As they would pass away, I’d think about that. A couple of times Michael Jackson called the hotel and said he wanted to bring his kids and they reserved seats for him; but he didn’t make it, which makes me sad because I do a really funny Michael Jackson routine that isn’t mean-spirited and I think he would have loved it. Harvey Korman is another one who passed away that I regret not meeting. I hope and pray Tim Conway, Carol Burnett, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart and Andy Griffith come see my show. They were a massive part of my life and are the reason I’m an entertainer. I’d love for them to know they had a hand in me becoming a major headliner in Las Vegas.
MR: What’s the biggest life lesson you’ve learned?
TF: That it’s okay to be happy, which can be difficult when you’re raised like I was. My father’s message to his three children was, ‘It doesn’t matter how miserable you are as long as everyone around you is happy. It’s sinful and evil for you to be concerned with your own happiness.’ It’s hard to overcome that mindset and realize that if you’re not happy, the people around you won’t be happy either. Happiness isn’t a destination like ‘One day I’ll be happy when I achieve fame or if this happens.’ You can choose to be happy today.
MR: What would you change about yourself?
TF: I’d like to be calmer. I tend to be very hyper. It’s hard for me to sleep. My brain is always going.
MR: Besides being a songwriter, you’re writing a series of books.
TF: I’m working on the fourth of seven books. I had this great cat I thought would be the perfect pet for Jesus, so I came up with the idea for a series of children’s books about the life of Jesus through the eyes of his cat, Lamu. The purpose is to show Jesus as a real person rather than a religious icon because people forget that at one time he was just like you and me. He would sit down, eat a meal and chat with people. Like my show, the books will appeal to all ages. Parts are fiction and parts are taken from the Bible. I’m not a religious person at all, but I do consider myself spiritual. If someone doesn’t want to read about Jesus, that’s fine, I never try to pressure anyone. But if someone is a Christian, I think they’ll find them charming. Everyone needs to do what’s right for them on their journey and we need to respect that. It’s about finding peace within ourselves and what we need for fulfillment. Christianity does that for me, but someone else might choose to be an atheist and that’s fine too.
MR: What’s left on your bucket list?
TF: I believe in the right timing so I don’t push for things. I let them happen. I know the universe is looking out for me. I’d like to win some major awards like a Golden Globe, an Emmy, an Oscar for Best Song in a Movie, a Grammy, or a Tony for something on Broadway. But I never want to give up live entertainment, which is my heart’s desire. Now if those things don’t happen, that’s okay, they’re just fun bucket list dreams.
MR: Do you have a favorite charity?
TF: I wrote a beautiful song based on a true story about a little boy who was dying of cancer, called “Horses in Heaven,” which is going to be a gigantic hit. I struggled with this song for months and then during “America’s Got Talent,” I dreamed it — the music and the lyrics. Every penny that “Horses in Heaven” makes will go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
MR: As we celebrate Thanksgiving, what advice do you have for others who are pursuing their dream?
TF: People commented that I made it look effortless on “AGT,” but they didn’t see the thousands of shows I’d endured to hone my craft and teach myself that confidence. Time after time, I kept going when there was no end in sight. When I was about 39 years old, I thought my dream might never happen, but even then I didn’t stop working toward it. I never surrendered to the nagging doubts that crowded my brain as I lay exhausted and lonely in a dumpy hotel room. I could feel the dirt and sand, the salt and grime all over my face after doing three shows at the dusty fair, wondering if I had enough energy to take a shower before collapsing into bed so I could do it again the next day. It took me 42 years to get where I’m at. So never give up. God will do his part, but he won’t do it all. He will see to it that opportunities arise, but it is entirely up to us to determine if we are prepared.
