Mykal Kilgore:
BEING AUTHENTICALLY BLACK,
TALENTED, AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY GAY IN TODAY’S
Music Industry
W
ith an infectious smile in his voice and a witty, peaceful demeanor, Mykal Kilgore has worked his way from church choir to cruise entertainer, to the Grammy nominated, Broadway and Television star that we see today. As a Black queer man, Mykal uses his platform to serve as a change agent for civil rights as well as issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. His instrument is guaranteed to educate, entertain, and elevate the lives of all who have the luxury of experiencing his unmatched sound. Recently, I had the honor of sitting down to speak with him about his journey, his passion, and what shaped him as an artist. Here’s what he shared…
I.L. “Thanks for sitting down with me, my main question is, What drew you to music?” Mykal “I feel like music kind of grabbed me! When I was growing up in the church you had to either be an usher or be in the choir and I didn’t want to stand so I chose the choir out of sheer laziness. I did not realize that it was going to be the thing that was my life’s passion. One little decision steered my whole life. I have loved singing ever since those days in the choir.”
I.L. “ You sang with your church, went on to cruise lines, Broadway, becoming Grammy nominated, and mentored by Billy Porter. How did being mentored by Billy Porter’s mentorship shape your career direction?” Mykal “I feel really blessed because I got to watch someone who is really excellent and who is really authentic negotiate and navigate his career. I got to see him make choices and open doors that made it easier for me to exist fully authentically. So I think really his mentorship is like being behind a bulldozer in a way. He’s making the path easier, I mean, it’s not easy but definitely because he exists it makes it easier for me to exist n my fullness. I always say I owe so much to him because not only did he give me an incredible opportunity early in my career, but he actually gave me the ability to function as human being in this industry. Before him, often you had to play a bit of a caricature of yourself to be ok. Being Black, and Gay and as I like to say, soft (I consider myself a soft person) sometimes can be difficult. He made it human in a way where before we were playing archetypes. I’m thankful to him for infusing his own humanity and truth into his career because it let me know that I could do the same.”
Written by Immani Love @ImmaniLove (she/her)
I.L. “How has being an openly gay man affected your career in this day and age? In this day and age with being a gay artist becoming more accepted, has it helped your career?” Mykal “ I think I had to get out of my own way. I never got to experience life as a person in the closet. I came out of the closet in high school. To a lot people I’m perceived as Queer which is fine because I am. I didn’t have a period where I was in the closet. I do theatre! So it did seem easier to be gay in my career. I was afraid to record because I thought I may be too gay to record but once I got out of my way out that, I got to experience my career as a bit of a “meritocracy” because there are so many people that are talented and worthy that
