Duquesne alumnus wins Grammy Award
It was just another birthday for Duquesne alumnus Darryl Yokley when he received the news he won a Grammy Award.
He came home from eating Brazilian food with his family when the drummer in the pit orchestra of Alicia Keys’ musical “Hell’s Kitchen” informed the group the show won the award for best musical theater album.
Yokley was immediately filled with joy, exclaiming alongside his daughter.
“It’s definitely life changing,” Yokley said. “When you’ve been doing [music] for that long, you want to see the accolades that go along with it.”
Yokley has played the saxophone — and sometimes the clarinet and flute — in the pit orchestra for the musical since its opening in April 2024.
It was the last day of tour with his band, Sound Reformation, when he got an email from a music contractor in March 2024. At first he thought it was a scam, but after further research he realized the offer was real.
