At just 11 years old, D’Corey Johnson took the stage of ‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 18, ready to share his dream of becoming a singer and his belief in his ability to win. Dressed to impress in a gray suit and a shiny green bowtie, D’Corey chose “Open Arms” by Journey for his audition, a song that showcased his mature, deep voice and effortless vibrato. His performance was so captivating that Simon Cowell, the creator of the AGT franchise, requested an encore without the backing track to truly highlight D’Corey’s vocal talent.
Backing tracks, as described by Wikipedia, are used to add parts to live music that would be difficult to perform on stage, such as string sections or choirs. They allow solo artists and bands to enrich their live sound without the need to hire additional musicians. By asking D’Corey to sing a cappella, Cowell wanted to strip the performance back to its rawest form, focusing solely on the young singer’s voice.
D’Corey accepted the challenge without hesitation, and his a cappella rendition of “Open Arms” impressed not only Cowell but all four judges, earning him a standing ovation and unanimous “yes” votes to advance in the competition. Though D’Corey made it to the semifinals and into the Top 5, he did not progress to the Top 3. However, his journey on AGT proved that at just 12 years old, D’Corey Johnson has a bright future ahead in the music industry.
Watch D’Corey’s unforgettable audition and experience the moment that captivated the nation in the video below.