T-R PHOTOS BY LANA BRADSTREAM Damien Porter, 12, sings Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself” for the Times-Republican. Porter enjoys performing in front of people and in talent competitions.

A young Marshalltown resident is making a name for himself with a guitar and the power of his voice.

Damien Porter, 12, has been singing since the age of 4 and playing acoustic guitar since 5 and now those skills have generated an invitation to audition for America’s Got Talent in Louisville, Ky. on Nov. 19 — an invitation which he accepted.

Porter’s mother, Cinthya Andrade, said she submitted a video of her son’s performance in the Lenihan Intermediate School talent show. Based on that video, producers from America’s Got Talent invited Porter to audition. Whether or not he will be on season 15 on the television depends on how well Porter does at the auditions.

“I’m nervous but at the same time it doesn’t matter if I win but about the experience,” he said. “I am super lucky to be on that and I love to sing live in front of people.”

When asked if he was willing to play in front of a camera, Porter gave the Times-Republican a flawless rendition of Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself.”

While he has a talent of performing in front of people, that has not always been the case. Andrade entered her son in the United Way Got Talent show four years ago. The mother and the son agree that Porter did not do very well at all. His nerves got the best of him and he held the microphone too close to his mouth.

“From there, I don’t know what happened. He just became more confident. Maybe he needed an ice-breaker,” Andrade said.

Porter was hoping to perform in the United Way Got Talent show again this year but the event was canceled due to lack of interest. Andrade had signed up Porter as a participant.

“I wanted to do it again just to prove that I am good,” Porter said.

All of this was made possible without Porter taking any lessons. The young musician relies on YouTube videos to learn new songs and techniques.

“It would not hurt going to lessons but I feel YouTube videos help me learn more songs rather than just chords,” he said. “They have helped me through when I first got started to where I am now.”

Porter sticks to two different styles of music. He enjoys the sound of the guitar in Spanish songs but he primarily sings songs by Bruno Mars and the Jonas Brothers. On his YouTube channel — “Damien Porter” — there are some songs that he sings in Spanish.

“I feel singing is very important to me,” Porter said. “I can do it in front of a crowd so I want to see what kind of impact I can have on the world.”

Those YouTube videos are mainly recorded from rooms in the family’s home. Andrade is no stranger to hearing Porter singing various locations.

“He is just amazing. I mean I know I’m his mom but every time I hear him sing I feel like crying because he is really good,” Andrade said. “I don’t know how he got to be this good. I hear him and I say ‘Oh my god. That is my son.'”

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Contact Lana Bradstream at

641-753-6611 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com