Idol: Stuttering Floridian Stuns Judges, Gets Ticket!

Posted by Emily Kochman , January 18, 2013 Print

Naples resident Lazaro Arbos breaks down on American Idol after learning he made the first cut (Courtesy Fox TV)

Inspirational moments last night on American Idol: A Floridian slayed judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban and Randy Jackson in an audition that created this season’s instant favorite!

Lazaro Arbos, a resident of Naples, has a debilitating stutter when he speaks.

When he sings, however, his disability vanishes!

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Arbos’ cringe-worthy moment came during his short talk with the judges before his performance in Chicago: Songbird Carey had helped him finish the name of his song, Bridge Over Troubled Water, because Arbos struggled so much with the words.

Then, Arbos’ professional-quality singing miraculously came through.

Check out the amazing video:

Arbos recently graduated from Gulf Coast High School. He moved here from Cuba when he was 6. That’s when his stutter got worse.

Years of therapy didn’t improve his speech.

“No one wanted to hang out with me,” Arbos said. “I had to stay home.”

His rendition of the Simon & Garfunkel song, however, rarely sounded better!

“Just sing all the time,” Urban quipped.

Arbos got the unanimous “yes!” from the judges, and now goes to Hollywood for the rest of the cuts.

Broward Featured Videos American Idol, audition, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Chicago, Emily Kochman, Gossip Extra, Gult Coast High School, Keith Urban, Lazaro Arbos, Mariah Carey, Napls, Nicki Minaj, Randy Jackson, Simon & Garfunkel, stutter, WFLX Fox 29

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Eva, 4 months ago Reply

No, because I am cuban, I am proud, it is amazing how he can sings so beautiful, God Bless Lazaro.
- Richard, 4 months ago Reply
  
  I would buy his album, when is it being released?
  - Jose Lambiet, 4 months ago Reply
    
    Not yet, Richard, give it a couple months!!!!
Maria, 4 months ago Reply

Please contact McGuire Programme who helped Gareth Gates , Pop Idol from the UK. He stuttered severely and is now an instructor on the Course.
papujo, 4 months ago Reply

Bro you are so amazing, i wish the best for you, God bless you
Evelyn, 4 months ago Reply

This is great! I wonder if he got a speech therapist who specializes in treating stuttering like those the Stuttering Foundation refers people to, if his speech would improve. It sure is great that he can sing and that he tried out for American Idol. I hope he goes on to show others that people who stutter can succeed. I wish him a great career singing.
Pedro Cena, 4 months ago Reply

Congratulations man, good luck
Elsie. Virginia Ruiz, 4 months ago Reply

Amazing voice, God bless you in your journey and grant you success in your future with Singing. a beautiful gift.
Maurice, 4 months ago Reply

Singing and stuttering are not related. Speech is a left-brain function while singing is a right-brain function. Lazaro Arbos is like many famous singers who struggle with stuttering. These singers – such as Mel Tillis, Gareth Gates, Marc Anthony, Bill Withers, B.B. King – are on the lsit of Famous People Who Stutter on the website of The Stuttering Foundation (www.stutteringhelp.org) – there is also a section “Celebrity Corner” with in-depth articles on this people.

The website provides many free resources to help people who stutter such as streaming videos and downloadable materials……. check out the brochure “Special Education Law and Children Who Stutter” that explains the little-known law that every child in the U.S. with any kind of speec h problem has the right to FREE speech therapy from preschool through high school
Did American Idol’s Lazaro Tweet Early About Making Cuts?, 2 months ago Reply

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