(December 9, 2023) When Broadway legend and television veteran Sheryl Lee Ralph gave a rousing, vocalized acceptance speech upon winning her first Emmy at the awards’ 2022 ceremony, audience members and viewers were taken aback by the power of her singing. Taking home the statue for Best Supporting Actress in the culturally impactful sitcom Abbott Elementary, she surprised many unfamiliar with her history in musical theater and recording.
40 years earlier, Ralph received a Tony nomination for her role as Deena Jones in Broadway’s groundbreaking Dreamgirls, in which she sang the now-classic “One Night Only” alongside Jennifer Holliday and Loretta Devine. Shortly thereafter, she began sporadically releasing records of her own, scoring big with the international 1984 dance hit, “In the Evening,” before going on to collaborate with Cedella Marley and singing the theme song of her own 1990 series, New Attitude.
(December 9, 2023) When Broadway legend and television veteran Sheryl Lee Ralph gave a rousing, vocalized acceptance speech upon winning her first Emmy at the awards’ 2022 ceremony, audience members and viewers were taken aback by the power of her singing. Taking home the statue for Best Supporting Actress in the culturally impactful sitcom Abbott Elementary, she surprised many unfamiliar with her history in musical theater and recording.
40 years earlier, Ralph received a Tony nomination for her role as Deena Jones in Broadway’s groundbreaking Dreamgirls, in which she sang the now-classic “One Night Only” alongside Jennifer Holliday and Loretta Devine. Shortly thereafter, she began sporadically releasing records of her own, scoring big with the international 1984 dance hit, “In the Evening,” before going on to collaborate with Cedella Marley and singing the theme song of her own 1990 series, New Attitude.
Over two decades after her last single release, Ralph unveiled a new album of modernized Christmas staples on her independently released Sleigh in December of 2022. This season, there’s a bit more time to pick up on the cheer of the collection. Here at SoulTracks, we’re especially appreciating her elegantly understated take on “O Holy Night.” Produced by Grammy-nominated singer and actor B. Slade, Ralph’s treatment of the oft-covered carol is carried out in a midtempo ballad groove setting. With supple keyboard ostinatos and smoothly layered background vocals embellishing the atmosphere, she brings the ideal balance of grace and strength to the familiar words.
As in her greatly varied roles on the screen, Ralph combines grace and strength in her vocals (in addition to a spoken recitation at the song’s close) for a listening experience that satisfies on multiple emotional levels. Her inclusion of the often omitted third verse, “…Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother/Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,” concludes the spirited rendition with relevant solemnity.
Take a listen to “O Holy Night” and welcome the vocal prowess of Sheryl Lee Ralph to SoulTracks!