American baritone Jubilant Sykes passed away on December 8 at the age of 71. He was the victim of an apparent domestic homicide.
A classically trained, Grammy-nominated vocalist, Sykes drew on gospel, jazz and folk influences. He collaborated with a wide array of artists including Julie Andrews, Renée Fleming, Josh Groban, and Brian Wilson, and appeared on “such diverse stages as the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Arena di Verona in Italy, London’s Barbican Center to the New Orleans Jazz Festival, the Apollo Theater and Hollywood Bowl. I have vivid memories of performing with Sykes when he appeared with the Richmond Symphony many seasons ago.
Here are excerpts from his discography:
Copland: Zion’s Walls, At the River (Old American Songs)
Bernstein: Mass, Hymn and Psalm: “A Simple Song”
Bruce Springsteen: If I Should Fall Behind
Recordings
- Jubilant Sykes’ complete discography
Featured Image: photograph by Matthew Gush