Jayanthi Kyle

Jayanthi Kyle

Kyle performing at a Black Lives Matter demonstration, 2015
Background information
Born c. 1979
Genres Gospel, soul
Occupation(s) Singer
Associated acts Black Audience, Jayanthi and the Crybabies, Gospel Machine, Romantica

Jayanthi Kyle is an American gospel and soul singer.

Kyle was born c. 1979[1] to an Indian father and a Native American and black mother.[2] Her family moved from Ford Heights, Illinois to Maple Grove, Minnesota.[1] She grew up in Maple Grove and Chicago's South Side.[3] She started singing in Baptist churches at the age of four with her sister. She later sang in Pentecostal and Evangelical congregations.[3]

Kyle formed the band Black Audience to open for Jim Ruiz at PalmFest. The band initially included Kyle's husband Robin Kyle, her brother Luke, Mike Gunther, and Doug Anderson. Gunther left the group, which was joined by bassist Jon Davis and harmonium player Matt Hardy. The group plays old gospel, country, blues, traditional Irish reels, and covers of songs by Bob Dylan and Harry Belafonte.[3]

Kyle also sings for Jayanthi and the Crybabies and the indie R&B group Gospel Machine.[4] Kyle and Gospel Machine guitarist Wes Burdine wrote the song "Hand in Hand" in for the Million Artist Movement. The song, inspired by the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, was first performed at the Million March MN rally on December 13, 2014. Kyle also performed the song at In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre's May Day Parade in 2015 and at Black Lives Matter events. The song has become an unofficial anthem for the Minneapolis Black Lives Matter movement.[2][1]

Kyle led the choir that sang during the first same-sex marriages in Minnesota at Minneapolis City Hall in July 2013. She also sings at funerals[4] and is a backup singer for Romantica and Ben Kyle.[5]

Kyle is married to Robin Kyle and has three children.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Daher, Natalie (October 1, 2015). "Meet Jayanthi Kyle, whose song 'Hand in Hand' has become an anthem for local protest movements". Star Tribune.
  2. 1 2 3 Tigue, Kristoffer (May 29, 2015). "Behind the music of Black Lives Matter: Jayanthi Kyle's 'Hand in Hand'". MinnPost.
  3. 1 2 3 Marsh, Steve (September 10, 2008). "Black Audience: Jayanthi Kyle left the church to find a home". City Pages.
  4. 1 2 Petrus, Junauda (February 14, 2014). "Minneapolis funeral singer offers comfort to mourning families". Twin Cities Daily Planet.
  5. ↑ Riemenschneider, Chris (August 12, 2013). "Chastity Brown, Ben Kyle make the Cedar's Exchange". Star Tribune.

External links

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