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Jackie Hymes is a self-taught singer, composer and recording artist and began playing guitar at the age of eight. She was born and raised in West Virginia and raised her two children in Ohio. A Florida resident since 1983, she has traveled worldwide and presented her original music in Greece, Italy and Turkey.

In Ohio, while working in the Portage County Juvenile Court System with adolescents who had substance abuse problems, Jackie composed and recorded her first album called "I Love to Get High (The Natural Way). The music and lyrics were presented to teens with a concept of raising their self-esteem and finding alternatives to using drugs and alcohol. Such songs were:

• You're a Special Person
• I Am Lovable and Capable of Love
• Kids have Feelings, Too
• Other recordings

• I Am A Possibility (Encouraging independent living for the mentally challenged)
• Anybody Listening? (Teaches communication skills)
• Is There Room for Santa? (A Christmas play)

After moving to Florida in 1983, she served as Education and Youth Director at Heritage United Methodist Church in Clearwater, FL. She utilized her musical talents by writing songs and directing a singing group of teens named "Heritage Heartwarmers". This group of about twenty youth performed locally and traveled to other parts of the US singing uplifting messages for youth and adults.

Jackie then worked as a counselor for homeless families and wrote songs and presented opportunities for homeless children. Under her direction, children and teens went out into the community and performed for churches, local TV shows and community organizations.

For twelve years Jackie directed a contemporary adult church group at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church called "Mass Appeal" consisting of vocalist, guitars, bass guitar, drums and keyboard. They played weekly and utilized many original spiritual songs Jackie had composed and recorded. As an added variety of musical opportunity for several years, this group also made up a local rock-and-roll band called "First Impressions", in which Jackie was lead singer.

For fourteen years, she directed a singing group called "Spirit Lifters" consisting of youth ages six to thirteen, in Dunedin, FL. They presented concerts to people of all ages and included local festivals, a radio station children's show, Hospice memorials, Easter Seal fund-raisers, senior centers, mobile home parks and churches of several denominations, just to name a few.

Graduating with a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from Nova University, Jackie began working for The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast in Largo, FL and continues to be a Child and Family Counselor. As in the past, Jackie has orchestrated musical programs to be used as instruments of healing and give comfort to those experiencing pain from grief and loss. Jackie was honored to write and record "Hospice Hands" which is used throughout the country to explain, in an uplifting musical spirit, the philosophy and motto of Hospice care. In addition, she directs the music and writes the theme song for the annual Hospice Children's Bereavement Camp.

To date, Jackie is a guitarist and director of "Blended Energy", which includes Ellen Seto on the harp and keyboard and Debbie Frisch on the saxophone and keyboard. This versatile group plays "for wakes and weddings and for every fancy ball", which includes almost any occasion.

Jackie has written nearly a hundred songs and continues to bring fun, laughter, tears, healing, hope and spirituality to people of all ages in the US and abroad. Her next musical tour will be October 2001 to Italy, Greece and Turkey with "Blended Energy" performing on land and sea.

A creative moment