Benjamin Booming lived in Madison, Wisconsin, in a little subdivision called Bitter Creek. When he was just five months old, his parents could hear him playing Ode to Joy on his baby piano and singing in perfect pitch over the baby monitor. By age 2, he knew all the church hymns by heart. He got a job as the church’s organist, but since Benjamin was so short, he had to order custom-made, foot-tall, blue suede platform shoes so he could reach the pedals.
When he was 6 years old, his parents stuck him in a kids’ choir at his school, but they were forced to take him out because his big, booming voice kept breaking the microphones.
When he was 7, he got a call from the president. The president wanted Benjamin to sing for him on his birthday! Benjamin was bouncing off the walls with joy.
When he finished singing, the president looked like his eyes were going to pop right out of his head! His hair stood on end and several windowpanes were broken. Suddenly, the president stood and slapped Benjamin on the back, laughing joyously. Then he invited Benjamin to sing the national anthem for 20 football games at the same time—in different states!
Benjamin was very pleased that the president had asked him, but he didn’t know where to sing in person. He didn’t want to hurt any of the teams’ feelings.
Finally, he came up with an idea. He requested 19 cardboard cutouts of himself to be shipped across the country. Then he made his way to Idaho to sing at the Boise State Broncos football game. He had always wanted to see the place famous for its spuds (potatoes). They were also home to his favorite candy, the Idaho Candy Company’s famous “Spud bar.”
The big night came, and Benjamin stepped onto Idaho’s podium. They tried to give him a microphone but he refused. He was going to make himself famous without any gadgets.
Benjamin took a deep breath and started to sing. Everyone from Alaska to Florida could hear him, loud and clear! From then on, he was known as Big Booming Ben. People still talk about him today.
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