Richard Goodall has been a janitor for 23 years. When he first needed a job, Goodall took a position as a janitor at Chauncey Rose Middle School, just three blocks from his home in Terre Haute, Indiana. Today, he works at West Vigo Middle School, marking over two decades in the role.
It was Goodall’s students who inspired him to audition for a talent show. He shared that the encouragement from his students led him to finally showcase his singing talents to the world. “The kids would hear me sing, and they told me I’ve got talent,” Goodall said. “That’s why I’m here.”
Before his AGT performance, Goodall listened to Journey to calm his nerves. He explained that music from Journey, Foreigner, and Survivor helps him feel centered and calm. “When I hear Journey, Foreigner, and Survivor music, it centers me, calms me down, and lets me know that I am okay,” he said.
Goodall, now 55, has always had a passion for singing and music. He fondly recalled listening to music on his Radio Shack stereo in his bedroom, singing along and “just belting it out.”
In his spare time, Goodall performs with his band, ManOpause. The band, which includes his friend Tom Greenberg and two other members, is known for playing a mix of classic and current rock anthems. Richard is the lead singer, and their performances are celebrated for tackling songs that others often can’t.
Here’s Richard Goodall’s cover of Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive”, filling the halls with glorious music
“Wanted Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi
Released in 1986, “Wanted Dead or Alive” remains one of Bon Jovi’s most popular songs to date, peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s still just as recognizable as “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “You Give Love a Bad Name” from the same album.
“Wanted Dead or Alive” was written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. Sambora was Bon Jovi’s lead guitarist up until his departure in 2013. The song was produced by Bruce Fairbairn, who also produced for Aerosmith, Van Halen, KISS, and later, The Cranberries.
The song opens with steely guitars reminiscent of old-fashioned country and blues instrumentation; that sound was then blended with the stadium rock energy Bon Jovi are known for. The result is a rock ballad as enthralling as any they would produce (and they produced many).
In a 2009 interview with Inside The Actor’s Studio, Jon Bon Jovi revealed that the song was written in the basement of Sambora’s mother’s house, where Sambora already had the song’s signature lick down. It came together in about two or three hours.
