Jubilant Sykes, the Grammy-nominated opera and gospel singer, has died aged 71 after being stabbed to death at his home in California.
His 31-year-old son, Micah Sykes, was arrested on suspicion of murder, authorities said on Tuesday.
Officers responded to a 911 call on Monday night reporting an assault in progress at the residence in Santa Monica, according to a statement from the Santa Monica police department.
They found Sykes inside with critical stab wounds. Paramedics arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene, police said.
Sykes’ son Micah was at the home and taken into custody without incident, police said. It wasn’t immediately known if he has an attorney.
Police recovered a weapon and the investigation was ongoing.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation,” the police said in a statement. “The suspect will be booked for homicide, and the case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.”
Jubilant Sykes was nominated for best classical album at the 2010 Grammy awards for his performance in Leonard Bernstein’s Mass, in which he performed the Celebrant role. Five years before, the Guardian praised Sykes’ performance as Celebrant, calling it “a spectacular performance of a demanding role”.
During his career he performed at prestigious venues including the Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Carnegie Hall, London’s Barbican Centre, the Kennedy Center, the Apollo Theater and the Hollywood Bowl.
Born in Los Angeles in 1954, Sykes began singing soprano as a child. He later sang as a baritone, and would also sing jazz and gospel music.
“Initially, I had no dreams of becoming an opera singer,” he told California State Fullerton’s CSUF News in 2019. “But that changed when I was at Cal State Fullerton. I had teachers who poured their lives into me. I had everything I needed right on campus to prepare me for my career.”
In 2002 he told NPR that he felt comfortable singing every genre of music, from pop to opera. “My singing is like breathing – it’s an extension of me. I don’t think of it is extraordinary. It’s my passion,” he said.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
