They say a person’s name can say a lot about them. If that’s true, you’ll have no problem figuring out what type of person Roslyn Kind is.
The singer/actress and all around entertainer has forged a name for herself without the help of her older half-sister Barbra Streisand, although the two are close and toured together last year. More on that later.
Back to the name. Kind is, well, kind. She’s spiritual, generous, giving, empathetic and sensitive to the plight of others, especially the elderly, the young and animals. Basically anyone who needs a little extra help once in a while. Kind believes she was put on this earth to spread joy through her music and entertainment, to touch those who need to be touched and overall, just make people smile.
"My life is based on a spiritual plane. I really feel we’re here to make life better and to learn unconditional love and share love and empathy," Kind says over the phone while on her latest tour. "As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized I want to contribute positively into this world and make people happy. If they’re going through a hard time, they can forget their troubles for an hour and half or I can impact their life by lyrics in a song. That’s what I’m here to do. God gave me a gift to use for the right reasons."
Kind has played large venues and she has played smaller venues such as the Beth Tzedec Congregation - where her upcoming Calgary show will be held - and it’s at these more intimate venues that she can really reach out and forge a connection with her audience.
"It means a lot for me to find the one-on-one connections; I think that’s very important because all people need to be touched, in their hearts, in the spiritual sense. They need to feel warmth."
That’s why she is so passionate about society protecting its elderly and young.
"I find it so sad when our elderly are forgotten, and our children, because everyone needs to know they have value and they mean something to all of us," she adds. "Children who can’t speak for themselves and elderly that can’t speak for themselves; it’s sometimes when you’re in the middle of life you tend to forget those that need people [because you] get so busy in [your] lives."
Kind took care of her mother when she was ill, which is why she says she’s "extra sensitive" to the issue. And why she makes an effort to "communicate to those people who need to hear and know they are loved and cared about.
"You want to see everybody happy and it pulls at your heartstrings when there is hatred, abuse, sickness and people not getting the attention they need and deserve."
Which is why Kind performs all over the world. And she loves the feeling of touching people through music just as much as she loves the standing ovations. Especially the standing ovations she and her sister Streisand got when they finally embarked on their much-anticipated tour together in 2012.
"There were a lot of people waiting for this tour to happen for many, many years," Kind says. "It was a lifelong dream for me to sing on a stage with my sister and it was exciting and wonderful. And our nephew was with us so it was like this family affair of traveling and sightseeing. It was truly incredible."
Of course, like many entertainers growing up with a famous older sister, Kind started out in the shadow of Streisand, nine years her senior, but eventually broke through on her own accord.
"It was a long time in the beginning known only as Barbra Streisand’s sister but I made my way, created my own persona and earned respect in the business for what I possess as a talent. I’ve grown and matured and explored my own life experiences and came into my own."
Kind says there were of course those that had their doubts.
"There were some people out there who questioned things they shouldn’t have been questioning - but they changed their tune," she says with a laugh.
It’s hard to imagine Kind not being a natural, like her big sister. They grew up in a singing household with their mother and Kind spent most of her time playing records and acting them out, like musicals. But she admits she did most of that alone as she was a shy child and spent a lot of time by herself.
"I always loved singing but I was much of a loner as a child," she says. "My whole world was me creating a fantasy for myself to perform that’s how I spent a lot of my alone time. I didn’t know if I’d really go into the business but then I saw my sister do it and I saw it could be done. I knew my joy was when I sang and it just seemed natural."
But it took Kind until high school, after losing some weight and gaining some confidence, before she went for it. She hasn’t looked back since, piling up an impressive resume of performances from all over, including Broadway and her upcoming Las Vegas show.
It’s not her first visit to Calgary but it has been awhile. She performed in the 1988 Stage West production of "Leader of the Pack", which of course is a lot different than serenading a crowd who paid money just to see her perform.
"I’m really excited. I like to have fun with the audience and really get to know them and they get to know me. I entertain them; I take them on a journey through my music. I bring you up, I bring you down, I make you cry and I make you laugh. The show is a journey through emotion and rhythm and I share it with my audience on a personal level."
Kind will be performing at the Beth Tzedec Congregation in Calgary on March 25th for the "One of a Kind" Evening Fundraiser. The Broadway performer will serenade fans for an unforgettable evening with a "Coffee and Cream" reception to follow. Tickets are $75 through Jewish Family Service Calgary.
