Janeska Smith Asante
The music and entertainment industry has forever recognized its’ musicians and entertainers for their talents.
To put these professionals in front of the public, it takes a teamwork of individuals to bring the whole picture into focus.
Janeska has been an intricate part of that picture, dating back to the early 70’s and before.
Janeska was born in New York City, but grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. Her grandmother, Norma Lightner, was an accomplished pianist. She taught music to many Omahans, one of which was the notable Addie Hinton. Addie Hinton was one of Omaha’s well-known piano teachers for over 40 years. Sticking to Omaha tradition, Addie passed her talents down (via learning from Janeska’s grandmother to teaching her mother, Celestine Stewart, both the piano and organ. Mrs. Hinton also taught Janeska how to play the piano, as well. Mrs. Stewart, an accomplished musician (could both read music and play by ear) and she played for many years in Omaha, also backing singer Joyce Abrams, the sister of Lester Abrams.
So, even though playing the piano didn't remain a lifelong interest, music remained in the heart and soul of Janeska through her family and friends. While attending the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Janeska started her promotional career by developing the First Miss Black Collegiate of Nebraska featuring many of Omaha’s Black Hall of Fame inductees. After receiving a Journalism degree, Janeska moved to Los Angeles, California, where she continued to promote and market musicians from 1971 on.
With every project she’s undertaken, Janeska created an avenue to include musicians and their talents, in hopes of furthering their careers and keeping them working’ at the profession they love. In Los Angeles, while writing for Essence Magazine, Janeska worked with The Sylvers, The Jacksons, Marvin Gaye, Quincy Jones, Chaka Khan, The Gap Band, Earth, Wind & Fire and many legendary artists of our time.
Throughout the years, she continued to book Omaha musicians at local venues and concerts. You probably know and remember the incredible talents of many of these Nebraska musicians, like, Lois (Lady Mac) McMorris, Richie Love, Spike Nelson, Susie Thorne, Annette Murrell, JMH (Jim & Susan Mertz & Arthur Harrington), Chad and Elaine Stoner, Steppen Stonz, Preston Love, Leslie Smith, Arno Lucas, Lalomie Washburn, Wali Ali and a host of others.
She has also booked major concerts for Boney James, Warren Hill, Pamela Williams, KevinToney, Bobby Caldwell and many other infamous jazz artists, while working for KOSJ 97.7 in Omaha.
Promotions and Marketing have been just one of her passions in her lifetime work. She has also worked for various media throughout the years. She was hired as the first female production engineer for KJLH radio. KJLH was one of Los Angeles’ top ten rated radio stations. She was Director of Marketing for KOSJ in Omaha, bringing most of the music and promotions to the Omaha area, and she was a news writer for several years for ABC in Los Angeles when KABC was the number one radio talk show in Southern California.
In 2003, Janeska re-located to Los Angeles and spent about 3 years booking 30 bands a month in Los Angeles. She booked a smorgasbord of music, i.e., Latin, Brazilian, Classic R&B, Jazz, Blues, World Fusion and more.
In 2007, Janeska is still working as a Board Member of OBMHOF and working in close association with Vaughn Chapman, founder of the Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame, to increase visibility, exposure and ‘profits’ for hard-working musicians everywhere. This will include Internet exposure on the World Wide Web. The OBMHOF website will also include services and products offered and created by Omaha residents, and much, much more.
In addition to working with OBMHOF, Janeska went back to school a couple of years ago to become a Hypnotherapist. She currently has a Hypnotherapy practice in Tarzana, CA and is putting together two websites, www.HealthyNotes4U.com and www.JaneskaTherapy.com to go ‘live’ in the first quarter of 2007 and to help people with all kinds of alternative and original healing methods. Anyone interested in receiving her Free Original Healing Column twice a month, can send their email to thehiphypnotist@janeskatherapy.com and she will send them a Confirmation Email to sign up for it.
For any questions that you may have about OBMHOF, you can email Janeska at “questions@janeskatherapy.com”.
2007 Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame Sponsorship
