Lavender Darcangelo
{ LuAnn Thibodeau }
IN THE SUMMER OF this year, folks around the world would find out what those of us from North Central Massachusetts already knew- and they were buckled in for the ride. A twenty-seven-year-old singer named Lavender Darcangelo made her debut on America’s Got Talent in July. Ok you might be saying to yourself…lots of excellent singers try their luck on the show, what makes Lavender any different? I could tell you that the first time I heard her sing, in 2019, when she offered a beautiful and memorable rendition of The National Anthem at The Doug Flutie Jr.Foundation for Autism 5k walk, she was amazing. And that Doug Sr. had tears in his eyes as she sang it. But you might say that’s just my opinion. So, let me delve deeper into the story of who Lavender is and how she came to be on America’s Got Talent.
Well, a bit of background on this lovely young lady. Although she was born blind and autistic, that never stopped her. She didn’t have the best life growing up, but that changed in 2010, when she was a student at Fitchburg High School. That year, Wil Darchangelo founded The Tribe Music Mentorship Project at Fitchburg High School, and Lavender wanted to join. She told Wil that she has perfect pitch, and on the first day, Wil knew that she had amazing talent. Wil was worried that some people in the music industry could take advantage of Lavender because she had the dream and drive that she wanted so much.
About a month after the group started, Lavender asked Wil to adopt her. He told her that wasn’t the way things worked- with him being a member of the faculty and she being a student. He thought that it was perhaps Lavender’s misunderstanding due to autism. But Wil did make a promise that he would be Lavender’s mentor for life, or at least until he found someone who trusted to do the best for her.
Fast forward three years, and Jamie came into Wil’s life. In addition, he also became involved with The Tribe, whom he loved and was loved back. Wil says of The Tribe and Jamie- “they just adored him. Jamie’s joyful silliness was a great balance to my often-stoic nature. Lavender loved him too”.
About that time, Lavender made the decision to emancipate herself from her biological family. She texted Wil and said that she had a few of her belongings in a trash bag and asked if he could pick her up. He immediately did. The original plan was to find adult foster care for Lavender, and to have her as part of their “family” during holidays as well as any time she needed someone to advocate for her.
But things were not going smoothly. Lavender was “couch-hopping” in the homes of several of the members of The Tribe, while a more permanent solution could be found. She was really struggling, and Wil and Jamie realized that she needed to be with them.
When Wil and Jamie got married in 2015, The Tribe sang at their wedding. When they returned from their honeymoon, Lavender moved in with them. The plan was still to find adult foster care, but when one plan fell through, they realized that they wanted to be together, and Wil says, “that’s the moment that we became a family”. The following year on Father’s Day, Lavender asked Wil and Jamie to adopt her, and on August 23, 2017, she became their legal daughter.
Fast forward to July 2023, and Lavender, Will and Jamie are on a westbound 747 and heading to the America’s Got Talent auditions. And on the night that the auditions were televised, they were back home and at a watch party in Fitchburg, where many, many friends (this author included), were gathered. Before the show started, Lavender was honored by the Mayor of Fitchburg, Stephen DiNatalie.
When the show started, everyone was waiting in anticipation, wondering what song Lavender had chosen to sing. As fate would have it, she was the last audition of the night, so we all waited with bated breath. Lavender was introduced and briefly told her story, with Wil standing by her side and Jamie in the audience.
When Lavender was asked by Howie Mandel why she wanted to be in AGT, she said “well, I have a lot of dreams…I want to build a school where the classes are based off of what kids are naturally curious at”. Now she was ready to sing. Wil told her to take a deep breath, and as he walked off the stage, said “you got this. I love you”. Jamie, with tears in his eyes as he looked at his family sitting next to him said, “I can’t believe my girl is on stage”. When the piano player played the first note of the song, you could have heard a pin drop at the party. As Lavender, with perfect pitch, started singing, the place roared. The song she chose, “Out Here On My Own”, couldn’t have been more perfect for her. The first line is her life story- “Sometimes I wonder, where I’ve been, who I am, do I fit in. Make believing is hard alone, out here on my own”. Well Lavender. You are not alone anymore. Your family and friends love you and will always make sure that you are never alone again.
The AGT audience was soon on its feet, and the applause meter was off the charts. The judges gave Lavender a standing ovation and great praise, then judge Heidi Klum hit the Golden Buzzer! Lavender was automatically moving to the live show! When emcee Terry Crews asked Lavender how she felt, she said “I don’t know. I don’t know if I’m awake or if this is a dream”. Well, Lavender, you were awake, and your dream was starting to come true, as Heidi pledged to hold her hand all the way to the finish line.
In the live show, Lavender chose to sing “I Want To Know What Love Is”, by Foreigner. Again, she was spot on with her emotional cover of this song. It too, is autobiographical for Lavender. Once again, the audience and the judges were on their feet, and the applause was thunderous. Heidi said “I love you, Lavender. I feel you when you are singing. I hope everyone in this room felt you, I hope everyone at home felt you”. And Simon said, “I love it when a contestant nails it, and you can feel it “. Well, we all felt it, and the voting sent Lavender to the finals. I’m sure that with her two dads, her boyfriend, Brian DeLuc, and all of her family, Lavender has indeed found what love is. And I can attest to the fact that now the world loves her too.
In the live finale, Lavender sang “Only Love Can Hurt Like This”, accompanied by the legendary writer of the song, Diane Warren, a Grammy and Emmy Award winner. Another great performance, and the audience and judges acknowledged it with their applause, praise, and a standing ovation. When Terry asked Diane what advice she had for Lavender, she said, “keep singing like that. You are amazing and that was an amazing performance”. That is certainly high praise.
Lavender then finished off the competition by singing a beautiful cover of “You Will Be Found”, by Dear Evan Hansen. This song rounds out the story of her life as well. Her song choices were so much like the story of her own life, it’s as though the original writers knew her when they wrote the lyrics.
The next night was the live voting results. And although Lavender was not crowned the new AGT winner, she is most assuredly a true champion. She is currently recording her first album, entitled Mosaic. According to her dad Wil, judge Heidi Klum is lending her support to help promote the album, and Diane Warren is lending two of her songs to Lavender for inclusion on the album.
When I asked Wil and Jamie what it’s been like for them, to see their daughter on AGT and now recognized by folks worldwide, they said that “it’s been a wonderful but challenging year”. I guess that pretty well sums up the whirlwind that it’s been.
And it’s not over. Even though 2023 and the first AGT experience is in the books, there is more to come. We will be seeing more of this amazing young artist and will be hearing so much more of her fantastic voice, as the doors to 2024 open. I am honored and blessed to be able to call Lavender, and her two dads, Wil and Jamie, friends. I can’t wait to listen to the first of what I know will be a great number of albums. The future is bright for this shining star, and Lavender, the world is yours. And thanks for letting me be a part of that world.