West Heart Rocks Westview - Continued -
Kuzmich said they may never know how much they have affected the lives of their young audiances. After one performace a little girl came up to me and wanted to buy a CD for 63 cents. That was all she had," Kuzmich said. I told her, “No, i won't sell you one, but here, you can have one,” and she walkedf away just beaming. Later, a teacher came up to me and said, “You don't know how much good you just did.” The teacher told him the girl, a victim of sexual abuse, usually showed very little interest in anything. Later, Kuzmick heard the girl had performed a dance set to one of their songs in a school talent contest. To have that kind of impact on just one life, he said, makes all the performances worthwhile.
While West Heart's school assemblies have a professional look and sound, their family night concerts, Casas said, are “mega performances” worthy of any nightclub or music hall.
The family nights are great G-rated fun for the whole family," Kuzmich said. The Nashville-type show is performed in front of 15 foot back-drop with a professional amplification system. We wanted to do something where you get the whole family out," Kuzmich said. At sandstone it'll cost you $20 a head. It's too expensive for families. And clubs don't have a wholesome family atmosphere.
Our family nights give the whole family a place they can go to dance and sing all they want and hear a concert for a small price. For the family nights, West Heart charges the sponsoring school or group $1 a person.The sponsor then can charge more to make a profit for the organization. In conjunction with the family night performances, they conduct a song writing contest. At on school they had 50 entries. They chose the top ten lyrics, set them to music and performed them during the show.
While Kuzmich Commerford and Casas are experienced songwriters, arrangers and producers, they also obtain some of their music through connections in Nashville. “We get the same songs pitched to us that get pitched to Garth Brooks and Reba McIntire,” Kuzmich said. We look for music that focuses on the vocals with a Diamond Rio or Alabama-like sound," he said.
Currently West Heart is working on an educational album that will be recorded in 1995. Burger King is planning a West Heart promotion to begin in January. They will feature the band on their placemats and give away West Heart tapes in its Kids Meals. In the meantime, look for West Heart on tour. they are scheduled to be at Trailridge Elementary School on feb. 9.
To contact West Heart, either to inquire about sponsorships or to schedule a tour, call the Boulevard Group Inc.
By Judy Hackemeyer the Journal Staff - Lee's Summit Journal - December 2 1994
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