Andrew De Silva wins ‘Australia’s Got Talent’

*Born to Sri Lankan parents in 1974 Melbourne

*Illness forced De Silva to leave chart-topping 90’s R&B group CDB in 90s

An emotional Andrew De Silva has won the heart of  Australia, voted the winner of 2012 and the $250,000 grand prize at the Grand Final Decider.

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After illness forced him to leave chart-topping 90’s R&B group CDB in the 90’s, AGT was singer/songwriter Andrew’s last chance to try and resurrect his music dreams and the opportunity to share his catalogue of original songs with the nation. Tonight he proved victorious with a symbolic welcome back to the industry, topping the public vote and triumphing over Tasmanian country band, The Wolfe Brothers.

The child of a Sri Lankan couple, he was born in Melbourne in 1974. “My parents were very supportive when it came to music as my dad was playing in bands himself,” he told Sri Lanka’s Sunday Mirror Magazine in an interview in May. “I played many instruments as a teenager which led me to write quite a few songs.”

Andrew was overwhelmed by the result “It was just an amazing moment. This is all a dream… I feel amazing. It’s just such a beautiful way for it to come to an end and in a way it’s actually a new beginning.”

Andrew paid tribute to runners up The Wolfe Brothers saying, “I was so happy to be up there with those guys, I have much so respect for them. It’s real music as well, so for both of us to be up there together is incredible and such a positive achievement for original Australian music.”

The Grand Final Decider opened with a show-stopping medley from all eight grand finalists – singer/songwriter Andrew De Silva, country band The Wolfe Brothers, dance troupe Kookies and Kream, quick change artists Soul Mystique, singer/songwriter Joe Moore, acrobatic group Odyssey, beat boxer Genesis and stripper Dylan Yeandle as well as favourites from throughout the series.