On Dec. 4, the comedy world lost a great talent with the passing of Fremont’s own Kabir “Kabeezy” Singh, who died peacefully in his sleep. A toxicology report is still ongoing, but authorities believe his death was due to natural causes, given his history of health issues, which have not been made public. He was 39.
Friends and family took to social media to mourn the comedic genius, expressing shock and sadness at his sudden demise. Fellow standup comedians praised the Indian-American young man for his infectious energy and down-to-earth authenticity, truly a loved and respected member of the local standup circuit.
When this reporter first met him in July of 2021, he had just made it through the first round of auditions on America’s Got Talent (AGT), Season 16. He would eventually reach the semifinal round before bowing out. During our brief one-hour interview at his home base, Kirby’s Sports Bar in Fremont, I was immediately charmed by his quick wit and natural charisma.
He talked about his life, growing up, traveling and moving to India (he was born in Portland, Oregon), where, as an American, he did not quite fit in. To ward off the bullies, he turned to comedy. This is where he first developed his stand-up skills.
He felt lucky and blessed for all of the big breaks in his career, but seemed uneasy being in the national spotlight. That’s when I realized that everything he did was out of love—for his family, for his friends, and for his fans. His greatest fear was that he might disappoint them with a poor performance, or forget about them on the road to fame.
He was dedicated and loyal, and that’s why everyone loved him back. When AGT asked him where he was from, he replied “Fremont, California.” When they asked, “Where’s that? Bay Area?”, Singh said, “No, it’s Fremont, California. We’re not doing ‘Bay Area’ or ‘East Bay.’ We’re doing Fremont, California, buddy.”
I wish him well on that great stage in the sky.
Fremont’s Got Talent: Part I (July 20, 2021)
Fremont’s Got Talent: Part II (August 3, 2021)
David R. Newman
Castro Valley
