At first glance, you might think Bay Melnick Virgolino was just another adorable 10-year-old with a big guitar and an even bigger dream. But when he stepped onto the America’s Got Talent stage, guitar in hand, what happened next was far from ordinary.
Bay, a boy from New York with a passion for rock music, told the judges how his love for guitar started when he was just 5 years old. He saw Slash from Guns N’ Roses and instantly wanted to be just like him. With the support of his mom and dad—his “roadies,” as he calls them—Bay began learning guitar and practicing every day.
As he took his place on stage, the audience expected a fun little guitar solo from a confident kid. What they didn’t expect was what Bay did next.
He didn’t just play. He played live and sang at the same time. And not just any song—he chose “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz, a high-energy rock song packed with bold vocals and fast guitar riffs. This wasn’t easy. But Bay made it look like it was.
Not Just a Guitarist—He Can Sing, Too
Everyone already loved the fact that this kid could shred on the guitar. But the real surprise came when he started singing. Nobody saw it coming—Bay can really sing.
He hit every note with confidence, staying in rhythm and in tune, all while his fingers moved up and down the fretboard with the speed of someone twice his age. The fact that he was doing both live, together, with no backup and no hesitation? That’s what stunned the judges.
Even adults struggle to sing and play at the same time, especially with a rock song that demands both energy and precision. But Bay was in full control. The crowd clapped along. He didn’t miss a beat. You could see how much he loved every second of it.
The judges were completely impressed.
Mel B told him, “Lenny Kravitz would be proud of you.”
Howie Mandel said, “You’re like a rockstar.”
Sofia Vergara called him one of the coolest kids she’d ever seen.
And Simon Cowell, smiling wide, told him, “You’re having the best time ever—and you deserve it.”
Bay earned four big YES votes and ran offstage into the arms of his proud parents, glowing with joy as host Terry Crews told him that millions of people would soon see what he just did.
