Wiradjuri man Damian Thorne's voice has been his family's best kept secret, until now that is.
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Mr Thorne will be performing live Sunday February 7 at the Griffith Regional Theatre's launch party for dozens of guests. However, less than 12 months ago he had never stepped foot on a stage.
The unpolished sound of his soulful voice was discovered in 2020's lockdown when he decided to share videos of him singing to his colleagues.
"Up until COVID hit I was only ever singing at Karaoke, so I've never really taken anyone seriously when they'd say to me I could sing," Mr Thorne said.
"While I was working from home I just started singing in the garage and uploading videos of me singing to the school email system to all the staff and teachers.
"I was getting emails back saying I was lifting their spirits and helping them through COVID. I thought that was great that I could help them with my singing."
His videos were spotted by a Griffith teacher, Katherine Innes who was involved with a project to connect artists and performers online to collaborate during COVID.
"He has such a casual and story-telling feel to his singing which I really enjoyed seeing," Mrs Innes said
"It was clear that he really enjoyed singing for the joy of it and it was a real passion of his.
"So when I started putting together the Social Distancing Concert he was someone who was already on my radar."
Mr Thorne performed for the first time in front of a live audience in March 2020. Remembering that night he says, fills him with excitement, nerves and the overwhelming emotion he felt to be doing something he has loved doing since his days as a child singing with his uncles.
"Before I started singing, I looked over at my wife and she smiled at me and I nearly lost it because this is something I've always loved. I've always wanted to sing in front of people."
Since then the offers to perform have been steadily rolling in including the honour to perform at the opening ceremony of the Sunshine Supergirl premiere last October.
"I'm just shocked. I didn't know you could get paid for doing something you love," he said.
"I just loving singing for people, for my community and my town."
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