Grand Ledge musician auditions for 'America's Got Talent'

GRAND LEDGE - Steve Spees stood in line for nine hours to audition for season 13 of NBC's "America's Got Talent."

From the third-floor of Cincinnati's Duke Energy Convention Center, more than 300 miles away from his home in Grand Ledge, the father of three played his alto saxophone and sang for 90 seconds, putting his own spin on John Lennon's iconic ballad "Imagine."

He'll know by mid-February if the song was enough to get him an on-air audition with the show's judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Mel B.

Spees, 51, has been playing the saxophone and performing on stage for 42 years. He said it took him years to muster the courage for the biggest audition of his life — and whatever happens, he's glad he did it.

"The worst they can say is no."

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Now or never

Spees had nearly given up on making a career out of music and had taken a job selling satellite television service when he suffered a heart attack last year.

"I shouldn't have survived it, but I did," he said.

It was a wake up call for the musician, who started playing the saxophone in middle school and continued at East Lansing High School and for one year with the Michigan State Marching Band. A fear of rejection that had kept Spees from performing on stage regularly gave way to the realization that it was now or never.

"Music was something I actually needed to make me feel like my best self," he said. "It is the job that I believe I was made to do."

Spees started performing as much as he could, with other music and and by himself.

In the last year he's been on stage at local venues, including The Green Door and Unicorn Tavern in Lansing, and at spots on the west side of the state, including in South Haven and Holland, with the band Rock Shop.

But he hadn't considered trying for a national audience until his son Christian, 21, mentioned America's Got Talent one night while the father and son were driving back to Grand Ledge together after a performance in Holland.

"Dad, you've got to try out," Christian told him.

It was something family members and friends had mentioned to Spees on and off over the television show's last 12 seasons.

He hadn't ever really considered doing it until that moment.

"I always thought they'd just take a look at me and say, 'You're an old guy. No,'" Spees said. "But I said I would."

An 'exciting, terrifying' day

Spees signed up for open auditions in Cincinnati, Ohio, one of 10 cities where "America's Got Talent" is offering hopefuls a chance at making the upcoming season.

He arrived at Duke Energy Convention Center with family in tow at 10 a.m. on Nov. 14. He auditioned at 7 p.m.

"It was a very, very long day," Spees said. "The day was the most exciting, terrifying day of my life."

Spees said he had no sense of how his performance was received. "It was a blur," he said.

Christian said he believes his dad has what it takes to make it on the show.

"I knew my dad could do this," he said. "He taught me to take steps with things I want to do in my life. Now it's his turn to take the first step. I'm excited for him more than anything."

Spees said the experience has already been worth it.

"Even if they say no, I did it," he said. "I stepped out of my comfort zone and did my best."

Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at (517) 528-2075 or rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ.