Roy Smith, a janitor at Omaha Burke High School in Nebraska, brought the house down last week when he joined the school’s orchestra to perform his cover of the 1964 Sam Cooke classic, “A Change Is Gonna Come.” The video has since gone viral, which makes sense if you watch it:

According to Inside Edition, Smith has been singing since he was a teenager and was offered a record deal in his early 20s but turned it down because he thought the career path was too risky. These days, he mostly displays his talent singing with gospel groups.

The viral video is the first time Smith’s voice has reached a large audience, but students know him to sing while he’s on the job. “Whistle while you work, that’s my motto,” he told ABC News. “I’m like that everyday. It brings joy to the students. The ones that are down and out, I give them something to cheer them up.”

(Photo: Alex Gaeth via Twitter)