Too Opinionated Interview: Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.

Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. first burst onto the national conscience as the Sinatra-and-Soul singing season six winner of NBC TV’s “America’s Got Talent with his incredible voice, undeniable charisma and unparalleled showmanship.  And a decade later, he’s still going strong.

Landau was born into extreme poverty in the Appalachian coalfields of southern West Virginia. His parents split while he was in elementary school, and Landau was shipped off to Detroit in the middle of the night. He woke up in the Motor Cities notoriously gang and drug-riddled “7 Mile” neighborhood. Landau likes to say that he went from Almost Heaven to Little Baghdad overnight!

After a series of dead-end jobs, run-ins with the police and a too-soon failed marriage, Landau eventually found himself homeless and sleeping in his car. Then, his voice became his calling card.

At the end of his rope, Landau tied a knot and pulled himself back up by auditioning for NBC TV’s “America’s Got Talent” with thousands of others. After months of competition, Landau emerged the winner, scoring a million dollars, a recording contract, and America’s hearts, and he’s never looked back.

​Landau’s Columbia Records debut album “That’s Life” reached number one on the Billboard Jazz Charts and was followed by “Christmas Made For Two”, “Landau” and “Landau Live In Las Vegas” that was recorded during a performance at the legendary Caesar’s Palace. 

His latest full-length album "I'm Not Messing Around" is Landau's first-ever album of all original material. 

https://stalbanswv.com/event/mayors-christmas-concert-landau-eugene-murphy-jr/