'AGT’ Season 19: Who is Mervin Mayo? Richmond police officer who went from 'CHARM' to 'CHANGED'
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA: Mervin Mayo, a contestant on 'America's Got Talent' Season 19, is a multi-talented individual who juggles multiple roles in his life. Not only is he a dedicated police officer and school resource officer, but he is also a talented gospel recording artist.
Over the course of almost two decades of service to the city of Richmond, these various aspects of Mayo's life have become intricately intertwined, showcasing his diverse skills and passions.
At the age of 48, Mervin's roots trace back to the Creighton Court Community located in the East End of the city. It was during his formative years that he found his calling in law enforcement, a passion sparked by the mentorship and friendship he received from Officer Curtis Simmons during their time together in the Police Athletic League.
Simmons regularly took Mervin to various amusement parks and water parks such as Kings Dominion, Busch Gardens, and Water Country USA, providing him with positive and enjoyable activities to keep him away from potential trouble on the streets. As a result of Simmons' guidance and support, Mervin grew up to be a responsible man who now serves as a seasoned member of the Richmond Police Department.
"As cliche as it sounds, I always said if I had an opportunity to become a police officer, I wanted to work with the youth like he did and give back," Mervin shared.
Mervin not only serves as the minister of music at Truth Ministries, but he has also been deeply immersed in the world of music since he was a teenager. Starting out as a singer, pianist, and drummer, he honed his skills and eventually found himself a member of a local R&B group called CHARM (Cool, Handsome, Attractive, Romantic, Men).
Later, he formed the gospel group, 'CHANGED', which performed on bills with some of gospel's biggest names such as Yolanda Adams and Rance Allen.
'AGT' Season 19 star Mervin Mayo released his debut album in 'Don’t Ever Let Me Fall' in 2009
In 2009, Mervin Mayo made his musical debut with the album 'Don’t Ever Let Me Fall'. Fast forward to 2020, he gained widespread recognition after his rendition of Marvin Sapp's hit song 'The Best in Me' went viral, leading to the release of his second album, 'Bow Down'. Building on his success, he dropped his third album, 'God Did It', in early 2024.
Right now, Mervin is utilizing YouTube as a platform to showcase his musical talents to a wider audience. He celebrated reaching 100,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel with a special post on his Instagram account.
"Look what was in my mailbox when I got home. I'm all smiles... I wanna send a big thank you to all of my subscribers/followers!! I've been trying to get this for YEEEAAARRRSSS (GOD DID IT)," he wrote in the caption of the Instagram post.
'AGT' Season 19: Is Mervin Mayo married?
Mervin Mayo is in a joyful and long-lasting marriage with his wife, Mechelle Mayo. The couple has been happily married for 23 years and will be celebrating their 24th wedding anniversary on July 22. Mervin's love for Mechelle was sparked when he first laid eyes on her while she was teaching in her classroom, and their love has only grown stronger over the years. These two lovebirds continue to cherish and support each other, showing that true love knows no bounds.
'America's Got Talent' Season 19 airs every Tuesday at 8 pm ET on NBC