Thomas William “TK” Kreason, co-owner and managing partner of the Texas Musicians Museum, passed away on December 4, 2023 at Medical City Dallas. TK was well-known throughout the Texas community for his longtime dedication to the preservation of Texas music.
Speaking of Kreason’s contributions, Texas music historian and archivist George Gimarc said, “I had no stronger ally in preserving Texas music than Tom and Marianne. We even took the fight to Austin. Marianne and I are working now to ensure the museum contents will find a new public home.”
Thomas caught the concert bug as a youth in the 60’s, doing whatever it took to attend the early tours of many classic rock bands. He began saving ticket stubs, handbills, setlists – whatever he came across – and kept them to this day. As an adult, he was drawn to live music production, where he interacted with an interesting assortment of musicians, from Loretta Lynn to Kid Rock.
His production employment at the Hard Rock Cafe opened the door to working with Isaac Tigrett (co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe and House of Blues), handling HRC memorabilia. Tigrett taught Thomas how to display memorabilia “Hard Rock style,” and he was hooked.
Thomas parlayed his HRC experience to establish a music memorabilia career, later working with Memphis’ Sun Studio and Dallas’ Red Hot & Blue restaurants, and amassing a large private music memorabilia collection. His music experiences created a passionate dedication to preserving musical history. In 2004, Thomas co-founded the Texas Musicians Museum, in financial partnership with Marianne. Notable Texas artists Steven Fromholz, Trini Lopez, Gary P. Nunn, and Michael Nesmith all visited in support of the museum. TK was known for his enthusiastic encouragement of DFW musicians, who proudly say they played on the Texas Musicians Museum stage.
Plans are for the Thomas and Marianne Ellington Kreason Collection to be kept intact in another museum featuring Texas music. In lieu of a funeral for Thomas, the family has chosen to celebrate his life on his birthday, January 9, 2024, at the Balcony Club in Dallas from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.
Thomas is survived by his wife and business partner of 16 years, Marianne Ellington Kreason; his “bonus daughter,” as he called her, Becky Kinnibrugh, and her family, husband Kelly Kinnibrugh, their daughter Kelsey Obeck and husband Tyler, their son Tyler Kinnibrugh and his wife Chazeley, with sons Levi and Kase. Thomas is also survived by sister Mary Kreason Okar of Michigan, and brother Jim Kreason, presently of Ohio, and their respective families, with whom he treasured a close relationship. Honorary survivors include the North Texas musician community, with whom TK had a special bond and considered a part of his family.
TK was also a friend and supporter of Buddy Magazine, and will be greatly missed. RIP TK.
