Tin Fish's Resident Voice Wows Judges on X-Factor With 'Hallelujah'

Singing his rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," Jeffrey Adam Gutt – known to Clinton Township audiences for his weekly performances at Tin Fish – wowed the judges of X-Factor Thursday and guaranteed himself a place in the boot camp next round next week.

The 36-year-old single dad is a familiar voice in the Metro Detroit music scene, appearing several nights a week as the frontman for Band With No Name at Tin Fish in The Mall at Partridge Creek. 

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Putting his gravel-voiced spin on Cohen's oft-performed song, Gutt drew praise from all four X-Factor judges, including the hard-to-please Simon Cowell, who called his audition, "one of the most brilliant auditions I've ever heard."

Randy Jackson told Gutt, "You knocked that thing out of the park. I am a fan."

The praise was, figuratively speaking, music to Gutt's ears.

“Failure is not an option at this point,” Gutt told the judges. “I need that record deal. It’s vital to mine and my son’s life.”

Gutt took his 3-year-old son with him to the auditions in Greensboro, NC, where he said he would be hearing him sing for the first time. 

"I really want him to grow up and be proud of his father," Gutt said. A $5 million record deal would also help him secure a better life for Talon.

"This is my last chance to make all my dreams come true," Gutt added.

Gutt will continue on to the boot camp round of X Factor next week. The show airs Wednesday and Thursday nights at 8 p.m. on FOX.