Grammy-nominated baritone Jubilant Sykes was stabbed to death inside his Santa Monica home on Monday (December 8), and police have arrested his son in connection with the killing. The news was first reported by TMZ and later confirmed by local authorities.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call describing an “assault in progress” at Sykes’ residence. When officers arrived, the person who made the call brought them inside, where they found Sykes with “critical injuries consistent with a stabbing.” He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say Sykes’ son, Micah Sykes, was found inside the home and taken into custody. He was booked into Los Angeles County Jail on suspicion of murder and is being held on $2 million bail. Investigators have not released a possible motive, and the case will now be turned over to the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether formal charges will be filed.
Sykes was a celebrated voice in classical and sacred music, known for performing at some of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the country — Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Hollywood Bowl, and more. His artistry blended classical technique with African American spiritual traditions, earning widespread acclaim across genres.
Sykes was 71 years old.
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