Greg Gould realised he could sing when his rendition of a Tina Turner classic in the classroom left his teacher "gobsmacked".
"I was in grade 2 and I brought in a My First Microphone with a little cassette recorder to show and tell and belted out What's Love Got To Do With It," he said.
"I was just having fun - I didn't realise I had a big voice for a little kid. It was followed up by a performance in front of the school assembly."
Gould grew up at Lake Munmorah on the Central Coast and attended Hunter School of the Performing Arts in Broadmeadow.
"My first paid gig was a tour of the islands of Vanuatu with a 40-piece brass big band singing Frank Sinatra tunes," he said.
"The band leader had spotted me busking down at The Entrance and booked me on the spot."
He went on to compete on Australia's Got Talent in 2013, finishing in second place.
"It was so much fun being in TV land for a few months,' Gould said.
"I went in with the right expectations and goals and I came out with everything I'd hoped for. That, and Geri Halliwell now follows me on Twitter - my favourite judge!"
Gould is touring From Motown to Memphis with 2005 Australian Idol winner Kate DeAraugo. The pair are performing some of the greatest songs of all time from artists like Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Elvis Presley, Diana Ross, Roy Orbison, Dusty Springfield, Michael Jackson, Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye, Carole King and Aretha Franklin.
Songs Chain Of Fools, Suspicious Minds, Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Pretty Woman, Son Of A Preacherman, Superstition, Midnight Train To Georgia, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, I Want You Back and Proud Mary are on the set list.
"These artists and their music are amazing," Gould said.
"I was really lucky to have parents with great taste in music growing up so the majority of these artists were my apprenticeship to music. Mum loves Elvis. Dad loves Stevie. I clearly loved Tina because she just happened to be in my cassette deck for show and tell [laughs].
"And I love Kate. We built a lovely organic friendship during the early days of the pandemic when I moved to Melbourne. When I put the idea of this show together I was so happy that she loved this music as much as I do."
Gould is also touring Synthony, a celebration of the best electronic dance music of the past 30 years by DJs, singers, and a full orchestra. It's coming to Newcastle Entertainment Centre on July 22.
"It's an incredible experience being in this huge arenas and venues with a 60-piece orchestra - I'm really grateful to be part of it."
