Written By: Theresa Mancuso
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The Utica Phoenix features our own outstanding Utica Native, Kevin Byrd whose ambition, brains, and talent have earned him international acclaim and spread Prostate Cancer Awareness.
Early Life
Utica Native, Kevin Byrd, was born on December 12, 1980, at. St. Luke’s Hospital to Mattie and Kermit Byrd were both Gospel Musicians. Kevin’s parents led their lives in service to the Lord, inculcating the word into the hearts of both Kevin and his twin sister Karen.
Kevin did not know it then, but he would be destined for greatness, setting many examples for all of us, and living a life with the type of purpose that seems improbable, if not impossible. With God in his heart, driving a remarkable talent and determined spirit, he began his journey.
As a young child Kevin only ever knew that he wanted to be ‘a star’. At 7 years old Kevin remembers his first-grade teacher, Mrs. Mary VanAllen, asking the class to draw a picture of what they want to be when they grow up. Kevin said, “I drew a picture of a young man on stage in front of many people.”
So, while he did not know what that would entail, he knew he had a path. This journey would take many twists and turns, from childhood until adulthood, building character and fortitude all along the way.
Recognizing his talent and ambitious spirit, Kevin’s father enrolled him in the outstanding local production company called “The Rhythm-Lites,” led by the late great, Doris Yager. Kevin was the only African American child offered a spot and put in the hard work required to succeed as a Rhythm-Lite.
Kevin was an innocently courageous child; his first audition was unknowingly in front of Broadway stars. He recalls a lady in a sparkly yellow outfit, walking up to him and asking, “What would you like to be when you grow up?” Just like before Kevin happily answered, “A star.”
Doris recognized how special Kevin was and took him under her wing. She was a great source of encouragement for Kevin, often reminding him he was special among a troupe of very talented performers. For a decade Kevin performed all over the Tri-State area singing and dancing with other skilled performers in this highly acclaimed production company and organically growing into his own.
Kevin’s parents supported all of Kevin’s dreams. They knew that to endure the hard work and discipline that would come with his dream and success he would need to be focused. This would require a disciplined body, mind, and spirit. So, in addition to his study of the Word, his scholastic achievements, and crafting his God-given talents, they placed Kevin in karate classes at 7 years old. Kevin trained with Sensei Terry and Vicky Donovan, taking classes for several years until he received his black belt.
At 14 years old Kevin left the Rhythm-Lites and met up with Cassandra Harris-Lockwood writer and producer of The Wonderful Wizard of Was taking on his first multicultural role.
This was a modern adaptation of Frank Baum’s children’s classic; The Wizard of Oz and the Broadway show The Wiz took Dorothy, or DJ as she was called, out of Kansas placing her in Cornhill, the inner city of Utica NY, to tackle important issues and realities facing its community such as gangs, drugs, and violence. This fostered his love of acting and led Kevin to other local projects such as Goodbye Girl, Oliver, and Scrooge directed by Donna Caleo.
Education
As a hard-working straight-A student, Kevin decided he would graduate high school early so he could head to New York to become a star.
He did exactly as planned, graduating a year early and set out on his path. However, before he landed to take a bite out of the Big Apple, Kevin said, “After graduation from Proctor Highschool I went to Los Angeles to see my family.” While there, I entered a Talent Contest winning first 1st place.” “I sang, “My Heart Will Go On” from the movie Titanic.” “Soon after I was offered a recording contract, but I turned it down, to attend Long Island University in August 1998. I had been accepted there and I knew I wanted my education.” Therefore, I chose to attend school at Long Island University to pursue a degree in teaching.
So, at 17 Kevin headed to New York. He recalls he would put on his best suit and take a 1-dollar van ride into the heart of the city to pursue his BA and launch his career. It was hard, but the boy from Utica who rode his bike to deliver the Utica O-D newspapers to make money continued forward. He carried on with his pursuit of education while working on his acting. Kevin would work on his acting skills for two years before he was discovered by Japanese director Lenny Tsao. Lenny Tsao saw something special in Kevin and offered him a part in his independent film called City Games. Kevin recalls, “Competition in the Big Apple was stiff “, but with perseverance and prayer, this opportunity was to be his first break into show business. Kevin later found out that City Games premiered at Japan’s Film Festival. He was looking for a role and God took him internationally. Little did he know that international acclaim would be his destiny in many ways.
With God, his aspirations, his agent, and his acting/vocal coach behind him, Kevin joined the 5-man acapella singing group “Impact.” Ironically, Kevin’s life would be the definition of the word. His group sang at places like the Apollo, and for the same record company Whitney Houston was produced. An ardent self-promoter, Kevin networked with everyone he met. God was answering his prayers and providing signs that one day he would have an international impact.
In his senior year at Long Island University, he met Blossom Brown. She was to become Kevin’s business partner and best friend for life. While in a study hall one night, Kevin posed the idea to Blossom of writing a movie script. The script would tell the story of a young man facing Cancer. Kevin and Blossom began working furiously, writing, producing, acting in, and networking with all those he needed to make the movie. This included his manager Nagre Anderson who suggested that the movie place light on Prostate Cancer and the battle that African American men in particular face with this disease. This film, called The Last Dayz, was an inspired and penetrating work. It was the first big step toward what would be their life’s work.
Kevin admits that at that time in the early 2000s, he did not know the dangers of Prostate Cancer nor that Black men are 86% more likely to die from it than White and non-Hispanic men. As Kevin was in the development of the ‘The Last Dayz,’ it would affect his life personally when sadly, both his grandfather and Blossom’s grandfather were diagnosed with the disease.
This personal connection intensified the importance of the work they were beginning. Kevin and Blossom achieved their goal and completed the short film. ‘The Last Dayz’ was featured in many theaters and magazine articles. Learning how deadly Prostate Cancer is, Kevin and Blossom have continued to work to make this silent killer better known to all men.
Kevin decided to write and star in his next project, “Release.” “Release” was a one-man show that was to feature men at different stages and ages in battling different types of cancer. One very important character that Kevin created was Smoky. Smoky was a 60-year-old man dealing with Prostate Cancer. This off-Broadway play was sold out everywhere it was featured. Fully realizing the importance of awareness Kevin reached out to the Cancer Society and asked them to support the cause. They agreed to support Kevin’s request and collaborated with him by speaking at the end of each show. Kevin’s stardom was being formed with purpose and he knew it was time to take it further. Kevin and Blossom decided to start a non-profit foundation hence the emergence of The BrownByrd Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Let Your Will Be Done
Developed their foundation, Kevin and Blossom installed a board of directors to their 501c3. They were determined to overcome any obstacle the not-for-profit world presented. Nothing would get in the way of their vision. There was a bigger picture and that was saving lives. With faith, they leaned into their calling. In 2008 Kevin recalls standing in his kitchen saying, “God Let Your Will Be Done,” and it was. God provided immediate growth and Kevin’s foundational name was changed to The BrownByrd Foundation.
This allowed the foundation to support other avenues of health while still bringing awareness to the importance of Prostate Cancer. With prayers on his tongue and the power of the Holy Spirit motivating his actions, Kevin was inspired with an idea. He would work to establish the First International Prostate Cancer Awareness Day. As Kevin and Blossom continued their work, growth, and networking, they gained support for their cause from several states and many political figures. February 2, 2009, the date he said God motivated, was installed and became the First Prostate Cancer Awareness Day and included as part of Black History Month. Kevin is the first living African American man to accomplish the induction of a recognized day. This honored day was the beginning of his contributions to Prostate Cancer Awareness and early detection.
Amazingly, today Kevin is the most awarded Prostate Cancer awareness advocate worldwide. His work has been honored and celebrated across the United States.
In addition to the national accomplishment, Kevin, Blossom, and the foundation moved the needle further, and for the last 12 years in honor of The BrownByrd Foundation’s work The Niagara Falls ILLumination Board has lit the falls Blue as a reminder to men all over the globe to schedule a PSA or DRE examination with their urologist.
Kevin said, “To see the Falls in those blue lights is so powerful.” “I left crying. Literally! I think about God and how powerful he is. He remembers feeling proud and humbled at the same time as he thought that this was the result of a Black man’s work and that he was chosen to be that man. “God is Good.” Kevin’s work has been honored repeatedly by numerous government officials, receiving proclamation awards, interviews, magazine and newspaper articles and covers. October 1st of every year in Utica NY is Kevin Byrd Day. In 2019 Kevin was featured on the cover of the The amNY Metro, a newspaper with 1.5 million readers per week. Its readership catapulted his message of awareness to a grand scale and since then has been featured many times this year, being his fifth. Kevin will be featured on the Christmas 2024 edition celebrating his message and his forty-forth birthday making it extremely special for him.
Between all the years of history making hard work with the BrownByrd Foundation, Kevin continued his pursuit of acting and received his biggest acting break when he was chosen to star as legendary American war hero Lt John R Fox. The historic award-winning movie “Honor Deferred” starred Samuel L Jackson and the late Bernie Mac was produced by Al Roker winning many awards.
This was the story of the Black WWII Lieutenant Fox, who when under intense fire, sacrificed his life by calling in bombers on his position to take out the most attacking Nazis. His last words were, “There are more of them than us.” It has taken decades for our government, country, and military to acknowledge the contribution of our African American soldiers. Five decades after his heroic service Lt Fox was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton. 
In addition, Hasbro created a GI Joe action figure of Lt Fox which today stands among other of Kevin’s achievements and awards featured at The Oneida County History Center. A DVD on Lt Fox can be found at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
Kevin is celebrating 16 years of success with his important work regarding Cancer awareness. He believes that his foundation will continue to grow because it is founded on Godly principles and that it will always be the case. Kevin acknowledges God in everything he does and every success he has achieved. This writer remarked, “Kevin, you asked God to make you a star, but you are bigger than that. You are a force of nature, like a supernova moving through space.”
We need to remember men and women like Kevin and Blossom, people who spend their whole lives giving to the world and service to God and use them as an example of what we all can achieve if we try.
If you would like to support Kevin and the BrownByrd Foundation; have questions you need answered or require directions on what to do because you are facing Cancer or you know someone who is please visit his website at http://www.brownbyrdfoundation.org.
