Arkansas' Triple Threat Competing in America's Got Talent Quarter-Finals

Courtesy America's Got Talent

Triple Threat: from left, Will Richey, Caleb Conrad and Tyler Davis.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — University of Arkansas senior Caleb Conrad and his friends Tyler Davis and Will Richey – the members of the ‘nerdy boy band’ Triple Threat – will perform live in the quarter-finals of America’s Got Talent Tuesday, Aug. 11. The show airs from 7-9 p.m. (CT) on the NBC television network.

Triple Threat, whose members all come from Benton, made a great first impression when they performed their own arrangement of the MKTO pop hit “Classic” during the Judges’ Audition round of the show in May. The video of that performance has almost 3 million views on YouTube, and over 11 million views on KARK's Facebook page.

In their second appearance, on a Judge’s Cut show, they sang their arrangement of Ariana Grande’s “Problem,” and earned their spot in the quarter-finals.

The trio is currently in New York City, rehearsing for the live show at Radio City Music Hall. How far they go depends on their performance Tuesday night and on how many votes they get from viewers.

People can vote several different ways: there’s an official America’s Got Talent app; there’s a toll-free number to call; people can vote through Google; and there’s a place to vote on the NBC website. All of these are separate votes, and the group points out it is okay to vote several time through any or all of these outlets.

Who Are Triple Threat?

Caleb Conrad is a political science major in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. His friends Will Richey and Tyler Davis recently graduated from Ouachita Baptist University.

They all played for the Benton High School football team, were all injured over the same period and found themselves spending a lot of time together. Richey and Davis had been friends since grade school and sang together as a duo in talent shows. Conrad also sang, but as a solo act. Before long they were singing together regularly and by late 2009 Triple Threat was formed.

All three are huge Arkansas Razorback fans, and they first attracted attention with two Razorback-related videos that went viral: "Hey Grude", followed by "Never Yield."

They don’t especially look like pop stars. After their first performance one judge described them as “beautifully nerdy.” He wasn’t wrong. But the judges also recognized their strong voices, tight harmonies and skillful arrangement. There was even a little rapping.  

Fans can follow the group on social media at Twitter: @itstriplethreat; Instagram: @triplethreatmusic; and Facebook: Facebook.com/itstriplethreat; and Vine: Triple Threat.