Val Jean was born and raised in southern California.
The oldest of four daughters born to Ted and Carol. Her
father was a self-employed general contractor and mom
was a homemaker. The song, "Takin' Care of Business"
was dedicated to her in Junior High, proof of her desire to
become a business woman. She grew up with a great
sense of business, 'playing office' at her dad's desk until he
really put her to work at age 17. During the next eight
years, she ran several business for her father, including construction, dairy farming, pallets, and land development.
Val has always enjoyed music. Val remembers babysitting, listening to songs on an album, over and over, and writing down lyrics, and also listening to the top 40 on a Saturday. She was on the band committee for the Junior-Senior Banquet in high school, visiting garage bands to pick the best. Val's friends started a band after high school and she managed them, setting up gigs at local venues.
Val Jean's love of photography also started at young age. "I remember making my little sister sit in the front yard in the grass with a flower, so I could get a picture of her". Her favorite photo subjects involve nature (ie. sunsets, flowers, and waterfalls). She has also photographed several weddings, but her favorite photo opportunities are at live concerts.
The mother of four children. Son, Matthew and grandson Noah. Son, Michael and granddaughters Kirsten and Megan. Daughter, Stacy. and Son, Steve. Divorced in 2001, and with the children self-sufficient, this allowed Val to pursue her favorite things. All of these things, music, business, and photography, came together in 2003. She attended as many LIVE country shows as she could find. As many as 21 shows in 10 days in Las Vegas during NFR, 2004. Lots of music, lots of pictures, and lots of memories!
Dale Jarrett, Reed Sorenson, Todd Bodine
