JJAMZ

When James Valentine is not touring or performing with Maroon5, he plays with a new band he and other rockers formed. Jason Boesel (drums); James Valentine (guitar); Alex Greenwald (guitar, vocals keyboard); Michael Runion (bass, vocals, guitar) and the lovely Z Berg (vocals) who has an amazing stage presence and voice. Their first album is called JJAMZ Suicide Pact. Good music but watch out for some of the lyrics. The album cover was filmed at James' Los Feliz home in LA. We watched them play recently in SLC, but James was with Maroon5 in Korea that night.

Brigham City Homestead

This home was built by my grandfather, Nephi James Valentine in 1911, the same year my father Lee Benson Valentine was born. Dad was born in the old adobe home, which served later as a tool shed. The land ran down to the railroad tracks, which in those days were close to the Great Salt Lake, which has since receded. It is still located at 304 South 800 West in Brigham City, UT, in case you want to see it. It was purchased from our Aunt Ruth (Pudy) by the Payne family in 1958 and has been "modernized" many times. They took very good care of it over the years. Originally, it was surrounded by fruit orchards with five large poplar trees in the front; the remains of the old adobe home on the south; an old root cellar in back; grape vines, plum, apricot, apple and cherry trees surrounding; an old barn (original wood pegs for nails in its sides); a chicken house in back and three acres. My sister Amy Lee wrote the following: Dad was born in the old adobe home. We weren't allowed to go in there because it was "dangerous" and falling apart. I never paid any attention to it. (I, Robert, did and went inside many times when we visited from California from 1948 to 1952 before moving to Argentina in December, 1952. It was full of old tools.) Amy Lee (continued): I remember the barn . . . not the chicken coops. It seemed to me that the chickens were just running around. The last time I saw the home, the purple plum tree that used to have the tire swing was still on the north side. Grandpa had watermelon and cantaloupe growing by the back door... Well, down the slope from the hammock, I saw Grandma (Ottolina Benjston) chop the head off a chicken on a stump a few feet away from the back door. There was an ice block refrigerator on the back porch with Nehi drinks cooling there. I miss the ditch. It had smooth stones on the bottom. Love, Amy Lee Valentine Corbin.

Amanda Valentine Holland, Designer, Nashville

A graduate of the University of Nebraska with a BS degree in the prestigious "Clothing and Textile" major, Amanda continues to dazzle with her creative designs.