Chown, aged 56, had been fighting cancer for about the last two years, unbeknownst to many. But even the people closest to the popular musician were caught off guard by how suddenly illness claimed his life.

The rock star had just played with Steelheart a couple months ago, at Eleven Ten Bistro (formerly the Ludington Grill) a few weeks ago, and had four gigs lined up at the Escanaba Yacht Club (EYC) this month.

The shows at the EYC, the first of which had been scheduled to take place last night, were to be a new recurring series as a gift to the people of the city. The first two Wednesday evening shows were cancelled due to Kevin’s untimely death, but The House Band and others will perform a tribute on the third date, July 22, and carry on a show without their bandmate on the 29th.

Kevin had been a major driving force behind not only the House Band but also the surge of live music that Escanaba has been enjoying the last few years. With a solid roster of talented musicians still in the area, that momentum will likely continue.

The original members of the House Band, from left to right: Kevin Chown, Dave Potvin and Pete Ammel. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Chown)

But his time with the House Band — so named because they had been playing on a weekly basis at the House of Ludington from its last reopening until the time it burned down — was only a part of the last chapter of Kevin’s unique, globetrotting life.

The Chowns are a prominent Escanaba family known for their musical contributions to the community. Kevin and his older siblings Mark, Karen and Amy were the children of John (“Jack”) — beloved longtime music teacher and band director who died in November at the age of 95 — and Ruth — piano teacher, music composer, church organist and more.

Kevin showed that he had the talent to play professionally even before graduating from Escanaba High School in 1988. At the age of 15, he bought a guitar, formed a band called Tyrant and played in local bars.

After winning the National Association of Jazz Educators Talent Award and earning a degree in music industry management and jazz studies from Wayne State University, he spent a handful of years living in Detroit, where he played bass and sang for the band Edwin Dare. After releasing his first solo album, “Freudian Slip,” in 1995, Kevin — then in his 20s — relocated to California.

Los Angeles treated him well. Kevin went on to tour as bass player for Ted Nugent, Chuck Berry, Uncle Kracker, Sebastian Bach, Tiles, Tony Macalpine, Pail Gilbert, Tarja, Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatbats (whose frontman was better known as the drummer for Red Hot Chili Peppers) and others. He played gigs in South America, Europe and Asia. He snagged a couple small television roles, such as playing bass in “How I Met Your Mother.” He earned a spot on a Swedish reality show, “Allt for Sverige” (Everything for Sweden), in 2018.

John Chown enthusiastically joins his son, Kevin, on stage at the Northern Lights Music Festival in 2024 in Escanaba, where the younger Chown played bass for Sebastian Bach. (Photo courtesy of Amy Chown)

Never forgetting his roots, Kevin didn’t leave Escanaba behind. He maintained his connections with local family, and even wrote a few letters to the editor of the Daily Press from L.A.

In one lengthy message, Kevin encouraged Escanaba’s city leaders to make efforts to turn the city into an attractive place for young people to stay.

“The obvious reason that people are leaving is lack of jobs, but I think it goes deeper than that. Escanaba is viewed by most of its youth as a place you leave when you are old enough,” Kevin wrote in 2003. “It was implied, directly or indirectly, that you should ‘get out while you can!’ It is preconceived that anyone with a dream, a talent, an idea will go on elsewhere and make it happen, never to return.”

He included in the letter a list of 13 suggestions of ways Escanaba could be greater. “Look at other examples of small Midwest cities that have continued to grow and prosper, and analyze what they have done,” he wrote.

Meant to be truly constructive criticism, his words clearly came from a place of love for his hometown. He said that he wanted to one day be able to “return home for good.”

The band Edwin Dare: Jeff Kollman, Bryce Barnes, Tommy Kollman and Kevin Chown. (Photo via Facebook)

In 2013, after quietly living with a seizure disorder for years, Kevin underwent brain surgery and finally went public with the medical condition, hoping to encourage other people with challenges to pursue their dreams.

When COVID happened, Kevin packed up his things and his dog, Bubba, and drove back to Delta County. He may have intended for it to be temporary, but life happened. Love happened.

Kevin met Julie Croasdell, the woman who would become his wife. His sister Amy described the couple’s finding each other as almost fulfilling a prophecy that their father had spoken long ago — that Kevin would end up with a nice blonde Finn from Rock.

Kevin went through the Delta Force Leadership Program, which the Chamber of Commerce conducts to give people in-depth understanding of how various aspects and industries of the county work. Kevin continued to display, up until the end, an interest in caring for his local commmunity.

When Chicago man Gabor Zsolnay purchased the House of Ludington in 2022, he hired Kevin to help direct operations and guide its restoration for reopening. Kevin spoke about how every change had to consider people’s memories, because the House of Ludington was so special to both Escanaba residents and visitors.

This photo was printed in the Escanaba Daily Press in 1995 along with an article about how Esky native Kevin Chown, then based in Detroit, was moving to Los Angeles. (File photo)

The reopened historic hotel-restaurant also became a venue for live music. The House Band, originally made up of Kevin, Dave Potvin and Pete Ammel, evolved into a rotating cast that also included Bill Lark, Dan Cartwright, Mike Flavor, Pat Feldhusen and Jim Adams. The House Band played weekly — over 100 Wednesdays in a row — in the bar-lounge of the House of Ludington until fire destroyed the building in December 2025. Since then, the House Band has continued to play elsewhere, including Leigh’s Garden Winery and Eleven Ten Bistro.

After discovering that he had bladder cancer, Kevin received some treatment and continued to tour. Everyone thought he had more time.

Cancer may have claimed Kevin’s life on Monday evening with his sister and wife by his side, but the impact the man had on the world remains palpable. Outpourings of love, regret, respect and various forms of passion have flooded the internet as Kevin’s friends around the world mourn the loss of a great musician and overall good person.

Kevin’s visitation will be at Anderson Funeral Home in Escanaba on July 18 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. The 4 p.m. funeral at Bethany Lutheran Church will be live-streamed on the church’s Facebook page for those who are unable to attend in person.  An after-party will begin at 5 p.m. at the Elks Club to celebrate his life.  A few days later on July 22, the House Band All-Stars will host a tribute to Kevin Chown at the EYC from 7 to 10 p.m. The event — on Wednesday, as was the band’s tradition — is free and open to all.  

In July 2023, Kevin Chown, then director of operations for the House of Ludington, points to the historic building's turret from the roof while giving a thorough tour to a Daily Press reporter shortly after the House's reopening under its final owner, Gabor Zsolnay. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press file)

Kevin Chown poses for a selfie with his dog Bubba.

Standing in the House of Ludington in December 2022 are Gabor Zsolnay, the then-new and ultimately last owner of the place, and Kevin Chown, who helped reopen the historic destination. (Courtesy of Kevin Chown)