Dionne Jeroue, Kansas City jazz singer, found dead on Thursday night

Kansas City jazz singer Dionne Jeroue died in her home Thursday night. She was 35 years old.

Jeroue’s fame was growing, thanks to the bold and commanding voice with which she sang jazz standards and pop hits. She had co-hosted the Tuesday-night jam sessions of Everette DeVan, her mentor, with Kelley Gant at the Phoenix. She performed with DeVan at the Green Lady Lounge. More recently, she headlined her own ensemble at the Broadway Jazz Club. Two Saturdays ago, on March 22, pianist Mark Lowrey premiered a new group at the Broadway Jazz Club with both Jeroue and Eboni Fondren at the microphone.

Her vivacious personality made her as popular offstage as on and won her friends and fans throughout Kansas City’s jazz and music communities. She was profiled as one of Kansas City’s Heartbreakers in The Pitch‘s February 13 cover story. On February 24, Jeroue and Fondren co-organized a fundraiser for DeVan, who had suffered two small strokes. The event packed the Broadway Jazz Club and raised more than $6,000.

On Saturday, Jeroue’s Facebook page filled with tributes, including this from DeVan:

“Dionne was such a giving person, always wanting to make someone else feel better before she would herself. I will never forget your first music lesson. You were so determined just as you were with life. You stayed in there and finally were on your way to your dream.”

UPDATE: A memorial fund for Jeroue has been set up here.