When Kevin’s father, Keith Newcomb, bought Sioux Falls Music in the early ‘70s, Keith asked his two sons to help out at the store (so their friends would visit—and spend). They loved working with musicians.

Kevin, who had an outstanding singing voice and was a good bass player, started attending the renowned music school at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He studied opera and musical theater at the University of Minnesota.

Kevin and his new wife, Barb, spent their honeymoon with twenty-plus other musicians from the MinneSingers in Europe. He later earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of South Dakota.

He and Barb moved to Chugwater, Wyoming, where he taught band and orchestra at Platte County School for two years. Their first son, Matthew, was born while they taught in Wyoming. Kevin played bass with a country band out in Cowboy Country. The young family moved back to Sioux Falls so Kevin could work with his Dad at the music store. Barb earned her teaching degree at USD.

Sioux Falls Music was one of the few dealers in the country with access to the Yamaha DX-7 keyboard. Kevin would drive hundreds of miles to deliver them to satisfied customers. After buying the store from his dad, he grew the inventory to supply the growing number of musicians. He loved talking music with his customers. When you went into Sioux Falls Music, it was like visiting with family.

Kevin played bass and sang with the Spectrum Show Band. He also served as the musical director when the Community Playhouse presented “Guys and Dolls.” He was often the featured soloist with the choir at First United Methodist Church

Kevin fought cancer for seven years before passing away in June 1996. He left Barb and their two sons, Matthew and Brian. When you thought about music, Kevin Newcomb’s name was at the top of the list.

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