A LITTLE SONG,
A LITTLE DANCE,
A LITTLE SELTZER DOWN YOU PANTS:
A Steve Kimbrough Bio

On 12/12/61 a bouncing baby boy emerged into the intense maternity ward light. Medical personnel marveled at how the newborn seemed enamored of the spotlight. Slapped on his small (but shapely) bottom the first son of Barb and Floyd Kimbrough promptly broke into a perfectly pitched set of squeals. A star is born. Leaving the hospital after three days the infant was mildly disappointed at a decided lack of paparazzi for his first foray into the public. He was promptly relocated to a not too large and not too small apartment on the corner of Fullerton and Racine -- only a stone’s throw from several of the stages he would one day claim as his own. When Steve was five Barb and Floyd gathered up his sister and 2 brothers, packed up their dreams and dinnerware and diapers, and “went on the road” relocating to the Portage Park neighborhood.

As a good Catholic boy Steve dreamed of going through life sin free or at least with a soul clean enough to pass the mustard (and they passed the mustard quite a bit to the chubby lad). With regulation above the collar haircut, starched white shirt, and a powder blue pencil case Steve attended Our Lady Of Victory and made his education a Vatican approved double-header by following that with four years at St Ben’s (Patron Saint of Rodents) High School. In 7 th grade – just like in an ugly-duckling-into-swan TV movie - Steve joined the basketball team and lo and behold lost every ounce of baby fat on his pubescent body. “Wow, who’s the stone fox in the mullet?” whispered his classmates. The butterfly had emerged from his cocoon with a mostly shapely pair of wings. Although Steve enjoyed basketball his habit of standing center court and bowing, raising his arms, and waving to the bleachers proved a problem. His coach promptly recommended theatre.

Like a high-kicking all-singing version of The Exorcist, theater positively possessed Steve body and soul for the next few years. He did so many shows around and about Chicago that even Chita Rivera would have screamed “Enough!”…but not Steve. In the process he met all sorts of people and developed social skills far surpassing even the most beloved of politicians. During these “gypsy years” his family was profoundly supportive, even chauffeuring him about with Steve actually sitting alone in the backseat calling out directions and instructions and demanding to be fed his lines like a genuine “star”.

Though Steve was widely involved in other activities in high school such as Pep Club, Yearbook staff, and as the ace cub reporter for The Weekly St. Ben Gazette – theater, music, and dance (including modern tap, salsa, lambada, and classical ballet) were always number one. During this time the curtain rose on Steve’s sexual preference as well and “surprise surprise” this musical loving, high kicking, theater living teenager was (gasp!) gay. His wonderful parents were instrumental in helping him both discover and embrace his sexuality and for that bit of genuine understanding he’ll be forever grateful.

So after the big homo graduated from Rodent High in 1980 he briefly attended Northeastern on a talent scholarship --- winning the coveted placement in an audition later copied by Jennifer Beals (or whoever did her dancing) in the movie ‘Flashdance’. But oh no, this gypsy wouldn’t let his wings be clipped. He was restless to wander and decided to put his button nose to the grindstone and start living life. At the age of 20 Steve suddenly lost his beloved father, ushering in one of the most difficult periods of his hitherto mostly charmed life. Shortly thereafter -- knitting his brow and setting his jaw in an unmistakable gesture of youthful determination, Steve moved out of the house. He began working an assortment of odd jobs while continuing to do theater and singing – the odder the job the better. While honing his craft Steve managed a health food store, was a Barbizon model, worked as a dialysis technician, bartended, go-go danced, and even sold industrial safety equipment.

Sometime between a runway modeling session and a kidney cleansing Steve met his best friend Kevin Ecker. Like the Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen they were inseparable and since both were performers the next step seemed inevitable. The duo quickly developed an act and became the folk singing sensation Frick And Frack, haunting train stations and street corners all over Chicagoland.

In the early 90s Steve wiped off his greasepaint, removed the glitter star from his dressing room door and bid goodbye to the stage door johnnies. Gasps of shock and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the acting community. Steve Kimbrough had stopped doing theater…sort of. Still voracious for the spotlight and applause Steve started doing cabaret shows. He loved it and audiences loved him.

As fate would have it one of Steve’s odd jobs, which had only gotten stranger by this point, eventually stuck. In the 1994 he fell into a temp job at a security firm and inexplicably has loved his work in that industry for over a decade now. The gypsy has made camp. Finding a job he loves as well as a solid and reliable income also allows Steve to perform on a regular basis. Since then both have flourished.

In 2002 Steve made a leap back onto the stage to standing ovations and cheers and tossed panties. That year he also recorded his debut CD ‘The Here and Now’. Initially his sexuality was an issue when recording, but with a toss of his determined head Steve decided to record with the “he” and “him” pronouns in tact --- proclaiming his gayness. It was a proud and defining moment that ushered in his new era of “It’s me baby, love me or leave me”. Accompanying Steve on piano on ‘The Here and Now’ is the profoundly talented John Paluch. Steve bumped into Paluch, an old high school chum, approximately four years ago and they’ve been working together making music and trading barbs (not Steve’s Mom but witty retorts) ever since.

Steve was thrilled to take part in a master class in the summer of 2004 with one of his favorite cabaret artists, Amanda McBroom.

Like all truly great men, Steve is as humble as the day is long and realizes he would not be where he is without the support of a great number of wonderful folks. His teary-eyed and enormous thanks go out to Kevin Ecker and his wonderful family, Liz Muckley, Tedd Neenan, Dan Crowley, Daryl Nitz ( the king of Chicago cabaret), Rick Crom, Mike Miller, CCP (Chicago Cabaret Professionals), Landscape Theater Ensemble, Hell In A Handbag, Greg Langreder, Pat Meccia and Phil Steyer for teaching him to harmonize. Heartfelt smooches to Mrs Green, Miss Dunne, JJ Stamm, Freddie Allen, Katie Lyons, Terri Spencer, David Cerda, David Zak and all his new wonderful theater friends especially Brooke, Gunnels, Bubba, Brannen, Brig, Cody, Molly, Derek Joshua, Lara, Kate, Julie, Melissa and Timmy. . Thanks to his wonderful family at Southwest Securities, especially Meg and Maria. A leaping yippee to witty wordsmith and travel companion Owen Keehnen for doctoring his bios. Certainly not to be left out are Mrs. Kittler, Annie and Benny, and Kate Harris. Steve sends a big 'Dating Game' kiss to all his friends in the rooms for supporting and changing his life in ways too numerous to mention. Steve gives a low and respectful bow to Nate Johnson and his wife DeeAnn for making the dream of this website come true. Hugs and kisses to the very handsome Fred Goudy for inspiring him to sing love songs once again. Of course he would not be here without the fabulous John Paluch and he looks forward to working with him for years to come. A hearty group hug to the entire extended Kimbrough clan especially his sister Patty and his nieces and nephews, without whom he (literally) would not be here today. Most importantly Steve would like to give thanks to his lovely Mother who has taught him to do his best, to be proud, and so much more. And finally Steve would like to high five God for walking with him on this wonderful madcap and magical journey we call life.