Luca Di Stefano, a nervous-looking nineteen-year-old from Sicily, Italy, made his way onto the AGT stage. The judges made fun of his timidity at first, pointing out his strong Italian accent and rather unsure demeanor—particularly while he was attempting to promote his act. The judges poked fun at his enthusiastic personality and strong accent, creating a playful mood. Despite his reserved introduction, this shy young man was about to shock everyone in the room with a performance that blew their minds.
It was Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” that Luca decided to sing. As soon as he spoke, his theatrical persona changed in an astonishing way. The timid kid vanished, replaced by a powerful, silky, and exceedingly soulful singer.
No one, not even the judges, had anticipated his voice to have such a profound, mature, and resonant quality—the ideal accompaniment to the R&B classic. As if it were second nature to him, he confidently held the stage.
The stark difference between his singing voice and his speaking voice shocked the judges to their core. Sofía Vergara enthusiastically remarked, “I would never have guessed that was your voice in a million years!” while complimenting the enjoyable viewing experience. Her reaction was shared by Howie Mandel, who is famous for his love of surprises; he said he “wasn’t expecting that out of you” and could “hear you sing that all night long.” It was clear that Luca was as taken aback by the compliments as the audience was; his expressions of shock and pride were genuine. He was able to secure his spot to pursue his passion after earning the panel’s unanimous approval.
