Richard Goodall, 53, of Terre Haute, Indiana, is a janitor at Davis Park Elementary School. He went viral for his rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin,’” which he performed at the school talent show.
A janitor at an Indiana elementary school has gone viral for his moving performance of the hit Journey song, “Don’t Stop Believin’” — and recently grabbed the attention of Steve Perry, a former lead singer of the band and a co-writer of the song.
Richard Goodall, 53, of Terre Haute, Indiana, does custodial work for Davis Park Elementary School.
He’s been employed with the Vigo County School Corporation for over 20 years.
At the end of the school year, staff and students were celebrating the fifth grade graduation with a talent show.
At the conclusion of the program, the teachers asked Goodall to step up to the mic to sing — a moment that, unbeknownst to Goodall, would wind up spreading joy across the internet.
Richard Goodall, 53, of Terre Haute, Indiana, is a janitor at Davis Park Elementary School. (Richard Goodall)
“It was all organic,” Goodall, who’s also a father, told Fox News Digital.
“I plugged in ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ and I just started singing and that’s what it was.”
The teachers at Davis Park know about Goodall’s talent — so they ask him to sing almost every year.
“It’s just kind of a wild ride that I’m not used to.”
Usually, he prepares a song like Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.”
But this year, he chose the 1981 Journey hit “Don’t Stop Believin’” to inspire the kids.
Goodall received applause and a standing ovation from staff and students after singing a cover of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin.’” (Mariah Denehie via Storyful)
“I just wanted them to not stop believing and thinking they can do whatever they want,” Goodall said.
Going viral: ‘Never had this kind of response’
Mariah Denehie, a woman who works with one of the Davis Park students with special needs, posted a video of Goodall’s performance on TikTok, Goodall said.
While he was singing, Goodall saw Denehie with her phone pointed at him, so he knew she was either taking photos or a video.
Goodall went viral after a video showing him singing Journey’s hit song “Don’t Stop Believin’” was posted on TikTok. The video has been viewed more than 3 million times. (Richard Goodall)
The next day, while Goodall was cleaning and waxing the school floors, Denehie told Goodall that she posted a video of him on TikTok.
The footage by then had garnered 107,000 views.
Goodall even caught the attention of Steve Perry, a former lead singer of Journey and a co-writer of “Don’t Stop Believin.’” (Fox News Digital/TikTok)
“I’m looking at her like, ‘OK, is that good?’” Goodall recalled.
“And she goes, ‘I’ve never had that many.’”
“By the end of the weekend, it was at like a million,” Goodall added.
As of this week, the video has been viewed more than 3 million times.
“I just wanted them [the students] to not stop believing and thinking they can do whatever they want.”
Goodall had no clue he would go viral.
“I’ve never had this kind of response,” Goodall said.
“I don’t know what to think of all this.”
Steve Perry, a former Journey lead singer, commented on the video of Goodall’s performance and wrote, “I love this.” (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
The clip caught the eyes and ears of Steve Perry, a former lead singer of Journey who helped co-write “Don’t Stop Believin.’”
Perry responded to the video on Twitter on June 29, writing, “I love this.”
Perry also made the same comment on TikTok, where Goodall reposted the clip to his own profile.
Goodall usually chooses to sing Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” at the school talent show, but this year he opted to perform Journey’s hit in order to inspire the children through the song’s message. (Mariah Denehie via Storyful)
Goodall responded, “Love your music sir!!! Thank you for commenting this means much to me!!! Thank you.”
