NEW YORK - Although Paul Potts has had worldwide success singing soaring opera songs -- first as a winner of a British TV talent show and later with his successful debut album -- there are some who don't consider him a pure classical singer.
And that's fine by Potts.
"At the end of the day I'm just a singer and I just enjoy singing," he told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "I love the music that I perform, and I've always loved opera. ... I think the world would be very boring if everyone agreed on everything."
He is on his way to having universal appeal, however. The 37-year-old former cell phone salesman and amateur singer became an overnight star in his native Britain after he won the TV talent competition "Britain's Got Talent" last summer with his stirring rendition of "Nessun Dorma." (Millions have watched his initial audition on YouTube.com).
"I didn't know what to expect, because I'm someone whose generally not a risk taker," he said. "I was thinking, `What are you doing here?'"
But "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell, also a judge on that show, was so impressed with him that he produced his debut CD, "One Chance," which became a multiplatinum success in Europe; soon, Oprah Winfrey learned about him, had him perform on her show, fuelling his success in the United States.
Potts is now on tour across the nation with another classically inspired act, Three Graces.
"I never expected to even make an album, let alone for it to be as successful as it has been in the United States," he said. "To find myself touring here is just mind boggling because I would have never believed it before."
