Members of the North Texas theater community will all know Jeff Kinman. He’s been a staple on Metroplex stages for more than 10 years, and his appearance in a show guaranteed one thing: Beautiful singing. His clarion tenor, high as the clouds and clear as rainwater, never failed to draw tears and cheers.
As a vocal coach, as a singer in stage musicals and on CDs (including last year’s Holidazzle II charity Christmas album, and the cast recording of The Last Session, in which he starred in 2002) or as a composer (Kinman, his partner Adam C. Wright and friend John de los Santos wrote a musical that got a tryout at Uptown Players’ Pride Performing Arts Festival last year), Jeff’s presence elevated every project he touched. The last time I saw him perform — earlier this year at UP’s annual Broadway Our Way fundraiser show — he looked frail, but his voice was as powerful and lovely as it had ever been.
When word spread earlier this month that Jeff was in hospice care at Legacy Founders Cottage, the outpouring of affection was palpable — on Jeff’s Facebook page, where countless friends posted fond memories and words of encouragement, but also in person … to the point where facility folks had to ask well-wishers to slow down their visits to avoid taxing resources. But it spoke highly of Jeff that people felt compelled to show their support and friendship.
Jeff Kinman passed away this morning at approximately 2:30 a.m. He was 47. Services are pending.
