Brandon Leake was the first spoken word artist in the history of America’s Got Talent, and the talented young man bowled the judges over, going home with a golden buzzer! Leake gave a passionate and emotional performance, discussing the impact his sister had on his life, leaving the judges hanging on his every word. The then-28-year-old college counselor and youth poetry workshop instructor was clearly born to do this, and he performs with such intensity and soul that it made his audition an unforgettable moment.
Leake spoke about how the birth of his younger sister Danielle ‘Puff’ Marie Gibson on July 4, 1996, changed his life when he was four years old. She would tragically pass away the following year, however. Leake gave a powerful performance, touching on the themes of love, loss, what it means to hold onto the memory of a loved one, and learning to live without them. The Music Man has to say that Leake is incredibly talented, and he gave the kind of performance that’s hard to get through with dry eyes.
Leake would go home from his audition with Howie Mandel’s golden buzzer. Mandel’s faith in the talented poet from Stockton, California was well-placed, as he would go on to win the entire 15th season of America’s Got Talent. Leake’s words hit the spot with fans at home, who added comments such as “The moment he said ‘She is here with me,’ I knew it, and I am still crying” and “WOW! That was raw, emotional, beautiful and touching. You’re very talented. Never give up on your dream.”
Leake was such a big hit on season 15, America’s Got Talent just had to have him back on AGT: All-Stars 2023. He shared that he was continuing his youth work, noting that he had succeeded in helping kids from 12 schools in his city get their poetry published. Throughout his first America’s Got Talent run, Leake’s poetry focused on family. However, on All-Stars, Leake shared a powerful lesson he learned when he conversed with a homeless man he crossed paths with in the city one day.
Leake won the 15th season of America’s Got Talent in 2020, taking home $1,000,000 and a Kia Stinger, as well as securing a starring role in a production at Luxor Las Vegas. The Music Man readers might be interested to hear that Leake has gone on to publish his poetry and release an album, as well as tour across the US and internationally. He has also continued his youth work, founding the non-profit Call to Move, which engages youth through poetry.