Brandon Leake

{{Short description|American spoken word poet}}

File:Brandon Leake.jpg

Brandon Leake (born May 4, 1992) is a spoken word poet, educator and motivational speaker and the winner of the fifteenth season of America's Got Talent.{{Cite web|title=Brandon Leake: America's Got Talent Contestant - NBC.com|url=https://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/credits/credit/season-15/brandon-leake|access-date=2020-09-25|website=NBC|language=en-US}} He was the first spoken–word poet to be on America's Got Talent and received the Golden Buzzer award in the first round from Howie Mandel.{{Cite web|title=An Evening of Spoken Word & Poetry with Brandon Leake {{!}} The University Union|url=https://theuniversityunion.com/unique/event/an-evening-of-spoken-word-poetry-with-brandon-leake|access-date=2020-09-25|website=theuniversityunion.com}} He performed pieces about his sister who died, his father, his mother and his daughter.{{Cite web|first=Marianne|last=Garvey|title='America's Got Talent' winner is spoken word poet Brandon Leake|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/24/entertainment/agt-winner-trnd/index.html|access-date=2020-09-25|website=CNN|date=24 September 2020 }} He was named the champion of the 15th season on September 23, 2020, going home with a $1 million cash prize, a brand new Kia Stinger and the opportunity to star in Luxor Las Vegas.{{Cite web|last=Keveney|first=Bill|title='AGT': Brandon Leake speaks words on his unexpected victory, which gives judge Howie Mandel 'hope'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/09/24/agt-crowns-spoken-word-poet-brandon-leake-season-15-winner/3511963001/|access-date=2020-09-25|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}

He has performed in 36 US states, New Zealand, Mexico and Canada with his Dark Side Tour to promote his published poetry and his album called Deficiencies: A Tale from My Dark Side.

He teaches at Brookside school daycare center, where he worked with his wife.

Leake is the founder and CEO of Called to Move, an organization that helps youth through poetry. He founded the organization in 2012 at Simpson University.{{Cite web|title=Brandon Leake – Called To Move -CTM|url=https://www.calledtomovectm.org/brandon-leake/|access-date=2020-09-25|language=en-US}} He is also an academic advisor at San Joaquin Delta College.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-24|title=Delta's own Brandon Leake wins America's Got Talent|url=https://www.deltacollege.edu/article/deltas-own-brandon-leake-wins-americas-got-talent|access-date=2020-09-25|website=San Joaquin Delta College|language=en}} On October 9, 2020, it was announced that Leake had signed with United Talent Agency.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/americas-got-talent-brandon-leake-winner-2020-uta-agency-1234594783/|title=UTA Signs America's Got Talent Winner Brandon Leake|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Erik|last=Pedersen|date=October 9, 2020|access-date=October 9, 2020}} Also in October 2020, it was announced Leake would serve as the producing partner and contributor to the Team Harmony Foundation's new international web series, HATE: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Brandon-Leake-Will-Contribute-to-New-Web-Series-HATE-WHAT-ARE-YOU-GOING-TO-DO-20201015/|title=Brandon Leake Will Contribute to New Web Series HATE: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?|work=Broadway World|date=October 15, 2020|access-date=November 21, 2020}}

Leake is from Stockton, California. He is married and has one daughter, who was born shortly before his first audition.