To the millions who saw him belt out “Somebody to Love” last week on “America’s Got Talent,” Brian Justin Crum is a phenomenal presence with a tear-jerking backstory.
He suffered childhood bullying over his gay identity, and his mother let him escape his hometown of San Diego to spend time with an aunt and uncle in Oregon.
But to Leigh Scarritt, “He’s still an adorable sweet little boy to me. Only now with a bunch of screaming fans.”
Scarritt, a veteran San Diego voice and theater teacher, says she worked with Crum between age 11 or 12 through high school.
“Brian was special from the beginning,” she told Times of San Diego. “When I met him, he was a young boy beaming with talent and a passion for the arts that was contagious. As he has evolved as an artist, I have watched his kindness and compassion for other artists manifest as well.”
Even though he moved away — living in New York before moving to Los Angeles two years ago — she said he’ll always be a part of the San Diego community of performers.
“But it’s time for us to share him with the world so his voice and his heart can soar and be celebrated globally,” Scarritt said via email. “Brian is an accomplished vocalist, but he is also a gifted actor and an incredible dancer.”
Contrary to AGT creator Simon Cowell (who joined fellow judges in a standing ovation on the June 28 show taped in Pasadena), Crum, 28, has had a wealth of opportunities to expose his talents.
Crum’s website depicts his deep theatrical experience. (His Instagram page shows him posing with celebrities including Rumer Willis.)
“He left San Diego at 17 to join the cast of ‘Wicked’ as the Universal Swing, performing in all of the U.S. productions of the show. He moved to New York City shortly after and joined the cast of ‘Altar Boyz’ (Mark) and ‘Grease’ on Broadway. He then played the role of Doody on the first national tour,” his bio says.
Crum was born in San Diego and grew up in Clairemont — moving to Oregon when he was 11. He says he attended Judson Middle School in Salem. He returned to San Diego and enrolled at the School of Creative and Performing Arts his sophomore year.
“SCPA was my safe haven,” Crum told Times of San Diego. “Sure I dealt with some bullying, but mostly it was love. My teachers were all very supportive of me, especially Bill Doyle. He has been a mentor for so many kids. I’ll never forget him.”
Crum dates his professional singing career to “Wicked” — his “first big job.”
“I had only done local regional theater before that,” he says, and besides Doyle and Scarritt also worked with Roy Mote (a coach of “American Idol” runner-up Adam Lambert).
Crum didn’t try out for “American Idol” or “The Voice” because “it never felt right,” he says. “AGT is such an amazing platform that showcases so many different people and different talents. I thought what an amazing thing to be a part of.”
“Somebody to Love” — which he sang as the last auditioner one day in March — is old hat for Crum. He performed in the New York production of “We Will Rock You” — a musical based on the songs of Queen.
Now Crum is seen by many as the King of AGT, whose top prize is $1 million. Many episodes are left to air, but social media has already crowned Crum a favorite.
Celebrities have praised Crum’s performance — including Lambert.
Hey Brian!!!!! Great performance old pal! https://t.co/fJyQNRjfa1
— ADAM LAMBERT (@adamlambert) June 30, 2016
But Crum says the most prized compliments are from LGBT youth around the world “reaching out and letting me know that I inspired them. That’s why I sing.”
He’s also playing a role in helping his community recover from the Orlando gay nightclub massacre.
Crum created and produced a video campaign with some friends called Rest in Pride.
“It’s to show the LIGHT in the darkness — to show LGBT Youth they should be proud of this community,” he wrote. “Everyone shares a prideful memory in honor of one of the 49 victims. We have big plans to become a nonprofit.”
He recorded the song “Light” from Next to Normal for the video.
“It’s for sale on iTunes and all proceeds go to One Orlando,” Crum says. “I really hope to soften the hearts of people who struggle to accept the LGBT community. We just want to love and be loved in return.”
One who will never stop embracing Crum is his former coach Scarritt.
“I will always love that little boy with big dreams,” she said, “and now I love that those dreams are being realized. What a privilege it is for me to be part of his story!”
