<P> In 2013, founding members Page and Varela met online, where Varela saw the YouTube video of Page with Groban . Page suggested that they form "a new kind of tenor group" to compete on America's Got Talent (AGT). They found Ryu during an online search, and spent the next few weeks preparing for their audition in Los Angeles, which came just two days after the three met in person for the first time . Forte's performance of "Pie Jesu" won praise from the judges; Howard Stern said they had the element of surprise because they looked like schlubs, but next time "we're going to know that you're not schlubs, but you're fantastic singers". Howie Mandel said the trio was like the premise to a joke: a Latino, a Korean and a New Yorker "walk into a bar, and record a giant hit record . You guys are phenomenal ." </P> <P> Before the group could perform again, the show's producers learned about Ryu's visa status; he was in the United States legally, but he was ineligible to compete for the winning prize . Page and Varela found Panikkar in time for their next performance in Las Vegas, where they were sent directly to sing in front of the show's producers . Varela called it a stressful week, during which the new trio had to learn how to work together, and on a song Panikkar didn't know . When the men faced the judges, Mel B asked them to explain the personnel change, and said it was like a second audition . After Forte sang "The Prayer", Stern said to the other judges, "the new guy is the strongest singer ." </P> <P> The re-formed group continued to advance in the competition; in the rounds to follow, Forte performed such songs as "Somewhere", "Unchained Melody" and "Caruso" to audience ovations and judges' praise, and an eventual fourth - place finish . Though the men later expressed their disappointment with the outcome, Panikkar said they never expected to win the competition . </P> <P> Following Forte's elimination from America's Got Talent, representatives of Columbia Records "literally stopped us in the hallway as we were leaving the stage", and Panikkar, Page and Varela signed on . Their self - titled CD was recorded within the next seven days and released in November 2013; FORTE spent two weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, peaking at No. 76 . The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Classical Albums chart, and debuted at No. 2 on Amazon.com's best sellers list and No. 1 at Barnes & Noble . </P>

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