Native Topekan Eddie Wakes brings his sultry sounds to the Jayhawk Theatre for Saturday concert

Topeka native and Highland Park High School grad Eddie Wakes is coming home for his "Boundless" tour.

Wakes' concert will be appearing at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Jayhawk Theatre, 720 S.W. Jackson St.

Wakes — who is friends with such famed performers and producers as Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman, Michael Bublé and Quincy Jones — is famous himself for his golden pipes.

Wakes performed “Silent Night” for the Academy-Award winning film "La La Land," was featured in the 2014 documentary, "Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark" on the Starz Channel and was the featured performer on a PBS music special in November.

He also sang in a musical production of Disney's "The Lion King" in Australia.

Wakes received first push at Highland Park

Wakes credited former Highland Park High School English and drama teacher, Ron Farrell, who recruited him to play Kenickie in the musical "Grease," for helping him get his start.

"'He said, 'You're going to be in it,'" said Wakes, who pushed back. "'I'm not the kind of guy. You have these popular people in there.' He said, 'No, you're going to do it.' And he dragged me in and got me involved."

Another person who helped Wakes along the way also encouraged him to get in on opportunities.

"I remember learning a secret from an agent, booking agent, still a good friend of mine, Larry Glickman," said Wakes. "He said, 'Eddie, the secret to success in this business is knowing to dance when the music starts playing.'

"So learn the jig."

After joining the singing group Up With People after high school, Wakes' career has led him to places like Nashville, Tenn.; Australia; Los Angeles; and now Las Vegas,  where he is on the lookout for opportunities to perform.

Wakes provides well-loved classics

Among the songs Wakes will be performing will be "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top" from the musical "Oklahoma."

"I think Nelson Riddle had a great arrangement to that for Nat Cole," Wakes said.

Though his repertoire is mainly based on early 20th-century American jazz standards, popular songs and show tunes, an original by Wakes may also make it into the show.

"There's a song called "Morning Sun" that I wrote," he said.

Wakes recited its lyrics: "Shifting sands and shady lands. Lost Paths far behind. I don't know when the road may bend. I can't locate the signs. A bird that dwells with wingless things and never leaves the ground. Lofty song he'll never sing. Itself is never found."

Wakes was born into music

Wake's father, the Rev. Melvin Wakes, was pastor of True Vine Missionary Baptist Church in Topeka. Eddie Wakes grew up singing, then directing the church choir, sang in the HPHS choir and Scot Singers. He and his eight musical brothers are a popular group, singing tight harmonies, when they get together.

It’s been three years since Wakes performed in the capital city, when he provided a special, private performance to celebrate his mother’s 85th birthday at Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, where 400 to 500 people attended the event, he said.

If his past is any measure of his talent, Wakes' concert is bound to be a success.

Tickets for the show — $20 for a reserved seat and $25 for a reserved table seating — can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Jayhawk Theatre continues to improve

Topeka's Jayhawk Theatre has been undergoing remodeling and hopes to become a showpiece and hub for local events.

"We see a real versatile range of programming, and what we really want to do is make sure we appeal to every zip code and in the city," said Jeff Carson, president of the board of directors for Jayhawk Theatre.

"We've talked about even having out here on the open floor, putting a stage on the floor and having a BattleBots robotics show for a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education," he said.

"We think that we're under serving the tastes of people who want to watch meaningful films," he added.

For more information about the Jayhawk Theatre and its events, go to www.jayhawktheatre.org.

Catheryn Hrenchir is a feature writer for The Topeka-Capital Journal. She can be reached at chrenchir.gannett.com or (785) 817-638.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka native sings 'Boundless' show Saturday at the Jayhawk Theatre