MILLERSPORT – “I was a boisterous artist,” stated Jessica Spires. “A loud dresser. I wrote plays and had friends perform them. I painted and sketched all the time. My grade card always came home with ‘talks in class.’ I loved music and the arts. Sang in the choir. I dreamed about being a pop star like Cyndi Lauper, Boy George, Madonna, Diamond Dave. MTV generation. I loved getting ideas for art and taking in all the music,” recalled for former Zanesville resident.

“At 16,” she continued, “I worked as a waitress in a hotel dinner/bar. We had a singer/songwriter guy come in and perform on the weekends. I loved listening to him. The idea of being able to write songs on a guitar seemed perfect. I could share art that way. He showed me a few chords. But I didn’t end up with my own guitar until I was 23. A coworker was selling it cheap. But a few years later I sold it and bought a cheap acoustic at the local music store and learned a few songs. I’m still a hack when it comes to playing but I love all things guitars.”