Just Help Productions...Help isn't a Word, it's an Action
jadeeslayton.com
Jennifer D. Slayton, Jadee Slayton, Hearing Impaired Singer/Songwriter, Artist of All Kinds. Member of ASCAP. I have three demos out of Nashville, TN for Original Lyrics (though, that is not what I have playing here) After graduating college, I obtained my Managing Cosmetology License in the state of WV, which I still hold. I was nominated for inclusion in the 2007-2008 "Honors Edition" of the Cambridge Who’s Who among Executive and Professional Women.
My very first painting! I painted this around age 6-7. I even knew to sign the back. I’ve always been an Artist and always will :)
In the past three years, I have sold over three hundred paintings worldwide to both private and corporate collections. You can find my work across the USA, (including Hawaii and Puerto Rico) Europe, Australia, Canada, and more. In 2005-2007 I achieved top-seller status for the Non-Profit Org., Feed the Children and eBay Powerseller status for sales of my Original Artwork. I have received achievement awards for my Original poetry, which has been published to private collections. My Original Oil Painting and Poem, "The Soldier" sold in 2005 and was dedicated to Fort Carson, USA to be displayed in a place of honor.
I worked hair/wigs with Bernia Ardia of Las Vegas on the Kiss Me Kate Musical. I also worked wig and wardrobe for many other theatrical productions such as Seussical the Musical, Grease, Fame, David Copperfield, plus more. I worked stagehand for concerts such as Toby Keith, Bob the Builder, and more.
Besides Music and Art, I enjoy being a Mom, being a Christian, Poetry, Writing, Photography, Web Art and Design (I make my own banners, backgrounds, logos, and such) and Philanthropy. I love a GOOD CAUSE!
Jadee’s "Create Yourself, Don’t Hate Yourself" Campaign
I write, sing, and perform my Original Songs. For the past 10 months I have been creating and editing my own videos for the internet. I record with my digital camera, my guitar, microphone, and amp until I can get recording equipment. So mostly what you’re hearing with my music now is its roots...its rawness. My Soul!
I have loved music since early childhood. When I was about five, my parents bought me a little wooden piano, made just like a real piano, only it was made small for a child. I would play on that little piano for hours. It was a best friend of mine during those times! One of my best memories was dressing up as Minnie Pearl and reenacting a scene from the Grand Ole Opry. I was about eight, maybe nine years old, and had I found a hat and placed what I thought looked like a tag hanging down in front. I was putting on a show in the evening for my mom and sister, and when my sister introduced me, I came out with my hat and said, "I’m Pearly More". I said her name backwards, and everyone laughed, so it embarrassed me. Thinking back on it now, I laugh too.
When I was old enough, I was singing school Christmas songs in front of the tree during holiday time, per my mom’s request. She would have me sing for her and the family. Though my mom has been deaf all my life, she always wanted to hear me sing. She couldn’t really hear me with her ears, but she heard me with her heart. Now, she has a cochlear implant, but I’ve never sang for her. That’s something I’m gonna have to do! They say I’ll need a cochlear implant one day, as my loss is progressive. No matter, I’m gonna sing!
After trying out and making it, All County Choir was my favorite subject in school..lol, and I was singing in my spare time in church on Sundays and such. My two cousins and I would practice each week so we could get up in front of the church and sing "Jesus Be a Fence All Around Me". (My favorite song of all time, the first song I sang in a public performance around age six) I played the flute in junior high, but didn’t care for it much. Now, I enjoy playing the guitar, electric and acoustic, and the piano and keyboard (the piano is my favorite instrument) I am self-taught in all aspects of my art. Funny thing is....I play by ear, but I can’t hear very well. Where’s the logic in that..lol
When I was seventeen, I started losing my hearing due to hereditary, progressive nerve deafness. (My mom and brother are deaf and hearing impaired as well) I had to wear my first hearing aid, and I had to adapt with what that required of me. Change and acceptance of myself and what made me different. I thought...my passion, the one thing in life I’d rather do more than any other, was unattainable (or so I had myself believing)....
I thought, who hears of a singer who can’t hear? The fear of needing my hearing to make music, but not having it, scared and discouraged me from following my dreams. I chose to express my artistic desires through other outlets that didn’t require my hearing. Cosmetology was the beginning, then, I became an ebay powerseller for sales of my Original FireFly Artwork, The FireFly Painter (JadeeValleyGallery) I have sold over three hundred paintings worldwide to private and corporate collections. But still, no matter what I did, I felt like something was missing. Like I wasn’t doing the right thing in life, and it was making me miserable.
Then, in the past year, I realized....time was going by and I still had the same lifelong dream.....TO SING!! it was never going away, it wasn’t fading or getting faint in my heart...it was still there, the same it had always been my entire life. I wanted to sing and make music! As much as I love painting on canvas and creating artwork, it was boring me, and I would catch myself thinking of music. I was still afraid because of the hearing impairment, but finally, I came to a conclusion...Music doesn’t come from the ears, it comes from the heart and soul!
Equipped with with plenty of soul and lots of heart, I decided to follow that dream of mine! So here I am :)
Thanks for stopping by my space! It means the world :D
Have a fabulous day ((smilez and huggz))
~jaDee~
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