This layout was handmade with love by the folks at My space or yours? using original artwork by Marah Johnson. Go get one!
Dedicated to my family, the artists and entertainers I believe in and support, the people I love and our journey. For the ones who have passed, this is my way of preserving the spirit of their youth and the memory of their beauty.
LOVE & GOD BLESS! NEECE XOXOAlthough I'm originally from Bakersfield CA, which is where a lot the old farming pictures come from the San Joaquin Valley. I'm of Italian-German with a smidge of English decent in their somewhere (my father's mother's name was Eunice Cameron). My mother's ancestors were the German farmers. German and Russian history states they were asked by Catherine the Great to teach the Russians how to farm. Years later - (the Kirschenman's) immigrated to the US settling in the Dakotas and various parts of California, then eventually settling in the San Joaquin Valley (farming in Bakersfield, Edison, Lamont, Arvin, Shafter, Lodi, and The Cuyama Valley), where they grew potatoes and sugar beets. Italian history states my father's ancestors were the Italian soldiers. Ironic in the US - my grandfather Vincent served in the US Navy, and my father and his brother Don both served in the USAF as Air Policeman, thereafter both worked for a defense contractor. However, some years later my father went onto work in AeroSpace until he died from pancreatic cancer in 1988, and my uncle Don who has also since passed, a retired President of AAA of Northern CA, and parts of South America. At the end of my father's career he worked for Northrop, which was contracted with the Space Shuttle Program in Palmdale CA. Their sister, my aunt Carol retired from the banking industry and lives in MA. My mother Bernice worked in administration for Getty-Texaco Oil in Bakersfield CA for many years, until she retired in the late 90's. I would like to believe my heritage, and all the wonderful people that have touched my life is what made me the silly and interesting individual I'am today. Granted I lived in Bakersfield for a good majority of my life, which was actually a great place to grow up. The family and friends I grew up around were genuine and kind people. Thank God... I made it thru school. I spent a lot of time in the principal's office from elementary thru high school. I actually used to get in trouble on purpose in elementary school, so I could pitch the holiday plays I wrote to the principal. Or I would opt to spend my entire recess in the office until I could see him. I'm sure I drove the principal (Mr. Moss) nuts at times, but it was not intentional. I "was" a serious play write from the 4th-6th grade. I was told by my instructors and the head of the music department, I had to obtain approval from the principal for all school assembly content. However, the trouble I got into at school in Jr. High and High School, by then ... I was just bored. Somehow the entertainment and music industry has always encompassed my life. It has always managed to find me. I feel blessed to have grown up around an incredible "living" music legend. I'm certain it instilled some valuable insights I would only understand later in my life. At the time I had no clue what "Hag" meant to the world, to me he was just my best friend's dad. I understood he played music, but for all I knew he was playing at The Blackboard downtown, or Magic Mountain in Valencia CA. Although it took me a few years to realize who my friend's dad really was in regard to the music industry, as well as some of the friends who used to come and visit their home. One who I greeted as "Mr. Campbell" (aka. the artist Glen Campbell). Of course eventually my perceptions of the gold and platinum records that hung in the sunken living room from floor to ceiling changed, they "did" amount to more than just a few fancy decorations. I also used to work at KAFY RADIO AM from the age of 12-16, for 45's, LP's and concert tickets. My job was to screen phone calls for a Christian Live Radio Talk show on Sunday evenings called "CONTACT", hosted by the wonderful - Mr. John Penrose (now the President of the organization "CHILDREN TO LOVE"). The perks of free tickets to concerts and getting to know artist management, production staff, radio people - somehow I always ended up on stage. I will never forget the first time I stood on the stage at a Steve Miller concert. I got to see literally thousands of people holding their Bic lighters in the air while the band played "Fly Like An Eagle". I probably had my mouth open the entire time, but I didn't know it? One of the production managers said to me, "so now you know how the Pope feels". I can honestly say it was almost a religious experience. By that time I had developed a real interest in the administrative and production processes. Many of those years is where I learned a lot about the world of music and radio. From there on things just seemed to evolve....Went on to attend college, married, had a couple of great kids (Kira and Nick). Worked for several years
in the entertainment and sports industry, for a production company based in Bakersfield CA (PR & Marketing, and artist development for Ligosa Entertainment Group of NY/NY, George Lamond, Sky of the American Gladiators, Artist Production Group, Bob Bender Productions and Everyday Productions). I also managed and coordinated special events (Sports Event featuring Pete Rose, The Lost in Space Reunion featuring the original cast members from the TV series) many concerts, festivals (Cal State Jazz), county fairs, tours (Billy Preston, Ringo Starr and his All Star Band Tour Summer of 1989, George Lamond) and films (Prime Target 1991 featuring Tony Curtis, Isaac Hayes, Jenilee Harris, Robert Reed, Andy Robinson and Michael Gregory). However, in 1998 due a major career-life change, a 15% unemployment rate, plus not having the patience to learn conversational Spanish (I only learned the dirty words growing up). At the time it seemed you had to know Spanish in order to get a job or you were just out of luck. Which I took as a sign from God, that it was time to find a life somewhere else. I then decided to move myself, 2 kids, and 3 chocolate labs (one diabetic, one epileptic, and one completely clueless) all the way to Nashville TN. All in search of a better life for all of us...including the dogs. Talk about a leap of faith onto a different planet, but a very nice part of the planet. I love the South! Everyone told me I was crazy-nuts. Then I reminded them... they were nuts to stay in California and pay $1000. a month for PG&E, and deal with a pretty rough economy. One way or the other, I knew it was time for things to shift in my life, and the life of my children. For instance, where could you live on this earth where going to church on Sunday is like being at a Las Vegas show? There is even a church for Bikers, the pastor is phenomenal. The talent here is incredible...speaking in terms of "all" genres of music. Some believe these are the proving grounds. There are stories still yet to be told of the Music City and it's origins, as well as talent to be seen and heard. I grew up always hearing Bakersfield was "little Nashville". So with all this to look forward to what was the problem? I moved 2073 miles across the US with a moving van packed full with 38 years of my life, my kids, my dogs, my resume, and a whole lot of hope and faith. I figured same sun ... same moon ... different local. I have always been of the mind it is good for a person to leave home. I mean really leave home ... at least once in your lifetime. So now ... and some years later I still work in entertainment/music. To date I partner with an Entertainment/Management group (Strictly Entertainment WW LLC out of NJ). The owner and founder James Womack was responsible for discovering JoJo the pop teen sensation at the tender age of 12 on America's Most Talented Kids. To date my working relationship continues to grow in the entertainment, film and music industry after several years, with wonderful stories of success, and many exciting projects in the works today. Granted ... I continue to meet incredible, talented and gifted people. All the friends, music artists, visual artists, film makers (indie & major), producers, (music & film), radio, directors, actors, professional models, comedians, screenplay writers, authors, song writers & composers, photographers, makeup artists, the Hair Gods, phychics, motivational speakers, pastors, ministers, and life coaches, athletes, as well as many other industry professionals - all the way to sound, lighting and marketing who have come into my life thru MySpace I consider you all "my blessings". Which all adds to "My Book of Life". However, I will say... the things I have learned from living in the South are: sleet and snow are not the same. Grits and Cream of Wheat were not created equal, and a Meat-n-Three and a Meet-n-Greet are not "one" in the same no matter what anyone tell's you. Thank God I no longer fall for that trick. I hope you enjoy my site and a small glimpse into my past as well as "my" here and now.
