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His career as actor/musician has always been an ongoing conflict. Originally, what he wanted to do was teach. But, in order to teach he had to go to school. In order to go to school he had to earn money. The only way he could earn money was to play the guitar. He went to Mexico, learned all the Mexican Folk songs and came back and got a job as the only blue-eyed, blond-haired Norwegian who could sing Mexican Folk songs. It was a means to an end, but he loved the music so much that his studies were neglected. He was then introduced to the theatre. At this time he was president of a young people's organisation called the Luther League, but found this new life in the theatre irresistibly exciting. Eventually seizing an opportunity to go to New York he found himself cut off, but at the same time, happy that he was doing what he wanted to do. "My name is David Soul, and I want to be known for my music" His move to New York came by way of the William Morris Agency, who signed him up as a contract singer to appear on The Merv Griffin Show. A former band singer, Merv Griffin was a veteran of daytime talk and game shows, having hosted talk shows almost continuously since 1962. Griffin frequently avoided anything in the slightest bit radical, offensive or controversial and as a result, found it difficult to compete against NBC's rival Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. In 1970, antiwar activist Abbie Hoffman came on the show wearing a red, white and blue shirt resembling the American Flag. Fearful of political repercussions, CBS decided to air the show, but had arranged to have Hoffman's image electronically obscured amidst a jumble of wavy lines. The incident sparked some controversy but did little in its efforts to challenge rival Johnny Carson. Appearing successfully on twenty-five shows, David Soul called himself The Covered Man. He wore a ski mask and asked only to be known for his music. It was on The Merv Griffin Show that he was spotted by talent scout, Renee Valente who, at the time, was head of a new talent scheme for Columbia Television. Soul was signed up for a training programme in California, which involved acting lessons, camera technique and karate.
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