How Church and Gospel Shape an Artist

In this episode, I look at the ways in which church and gospel music can shape an artist like my guest, Ephraim Sykes, a veritable triple threat of acting, singing, and dancing. As a kid and teenager, Ephraim had a natural affinity for dance and music, and his outlet was Sunday worship. Joining the gospel choir wasn’t a conscious decision, Ephraim says. “It was just what we did.” Since getting his BFA in dance, Ephraim has performed with the Alvin Ailey company, danced and acted in the original cast of Hamilton, and won over audiences as Seaweed in NBC’s Hairspray Live! He is now the star of Ain’t Too Proud, a Broadway musical about the iconic Motown group The Temptations. To play the group’s showman David Ruffin, Ephraim gives his voice a raspy quality that he borrows directly from church pastors. He knows how significant the show is for audience members: the homage it pays to black history and the way it speaks openly and directly about God. It’s all familiar territory for Ephraim. 

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/ephsykes/?hl=en

https://www.ainttooproudmusical.com/

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