Kevin "KalimbaMan" Spears

Under a blazing August sun, the river of life birthed a child filled with a peculiar mix of purpose and destiny. However, quickly and abruptly, eight minutes after being born, this child still unnamed stopped breathing. As life seeped away from it’s body, physicians worked frantically and mother prayed to the presenter and sustainer of life and as mother prayed, physicians did everything they knew how. After laying lifeless on the table one minute went by, two minutes gone, three minutes nearly complete, thoughts coursed through the mind of the attendants “That’s it, let him go”, mother praying! Looking back on this painful experience, one question begs to be asked “Did three minutes signify three days?” From the time of this tragedy it has remained true that on the far side of the three minute mark, by the hand of God signs of life began to reappear in this child, breathing, crying, kicking, why? Mother praying and he was named Kevin Spears.
During the winter of 1975, the gift of music became a tool of deep expression and solace when he requested no begged his mother to buy him that exotic musical instrument he heard Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire play which is called Kalimba. One Christmas Day he received his first Kalimba and thereafter he would lock himself in his room for four to five hours at a time to commune with this instrument. Kevin recalls “When I picked up the Kalimba for the first time, I tearfully knew in my heart of hearts that this instrument was a gift from God and that He had many things for me to do in my life musically and that the Kalimba signify’s the unique calling placed on my life.”
Drawing from many musical influences from around the world including Jazz, Blues, and Flamenco, Kevin uniquely mixes these styles into a musical experience all his own. His music bridges Africa to America from Jazz to Rock with a powerful infusion of spirituality due to his deeply personal relationship with God and soul brother 1 Jesus Christ.After his live performances you hear things like “I’ve never seen anything like it” “He’s like Michael Jordan on Kalimba” or “His music and his demeanor help you to go to a place within where you feel closer to God.” To witness a live performance, you hear and feel echoes of Africa, Duke Ellington, Hendrix and Hip Hop. It leaves you asking “How can so much music come from one man on what seems like a simple instrument, he sounds like a 4 or 5 piece band.” Kevin’s gift on the Kalimba revolutionizes what can be done on this instrument. He states “Even for what I’ve been blessed to do on this instrument, I could spend another lifetime learning about it, yet I must be humble and continually express my gratefulness to God for the life I’ve lived and to play what I play.”
Kevin has performed around the country from Washington D.C. to Anchorage Alaska, and has opened for Artists such as Pieces of a Dream, Chuck Loeb, Yonrico Scott (Derrick Trucks, Earl Klugh), Jeff Moser and Jhelisa Anderson (U.K.) In addition, he will be featured on the upcoming project by master percussionist Bill Summers (Herbie Hancock)
It is uniquely beautiful and inspiring to witness this artist who is one with his instrument!
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