By Alison Paul

A seven and a half year labor of love is now complete for Washington couple, Nannette "Hoot" and JC Stephenson, who have prevailed against many of life’s curve balls.

The Stephenson’s are professional musicians with an 11 year run playing rock-n-roll venues from New England to Florida to Kansas City in their adult alternative rock band, Snakes-n-Angels, which released its first CD, 
"Scenes From A 100 Acre Wood", in December ’99.

"We are balladeers of sorts……emotional power ballads are our strong point," said JC Stephenson. "We’ve been described as Heart meets Eric Clapton. We have a late 80’s to early 90’s rock-n-roll style….which makes us somewhat old fashioned….This sound is coming back. There was a place for alternative, but I think it’s a passing thing….We are the best kept secret in Beaufort County."

The Stephenson’s have a Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham type of on-stage, vocal relationship.

In a world filled with Generation Xers creating techno-tunes, classic rockers have been snubbed out of the lime light. Snakes-n-Angels stays true to their roots and wants to see traditional rock-n-roll take center stage once more.

The band has received positive feedback from large music websites on the internet.

Snakes-n-Angels won best female vocalist of the year and are nominated for best pop rock song, best rock CD, and best guitar solo on http://www.evor.com/, a musician’s website that gives support to independent music ventures, featuring approximately 60 bands nationwide, as well as Iceland and Sweden, that holds a 1,000 member fan base.

In January, the band was honored as artist of the month for the millennium on http://www.hardluckcafe.com/.  On http://www.jpfolks.com/ , (Just Plain Folks), an independent musician’s website with approximately 7000 members, have honored the group with a nomination for best hard rock CD for the year. "This is the biggest website we are involved with", said Hoot. They were also nominated for People’s Choice Award on the site SLAB, http://www.slabmusic.com/, a site for bands located in the South.

Because Snakes-n-Angels is an independent endeavor they have come to rely on feedback from national music websites and e-mail sent to them by their fan base via their own website, http://www.snakes-n-angels.com/

Last fall, Snakes-n-Angels organized 2 benefits for flood victims of eastern NC. They performed at MARS music in Raleigh with Tuckered and Bone Deep in October and then at Wesleyan College’s, The Dunn Center in Rocky Mount with Bill Lyerly Band and The Embers in November. All proceeds went to flood relief.

"As musicians in eastern North Carolina…..that is the only thing we knew to do to help", said Hoot.

Hoot has performed for 17 years, idolizing Ann Wilson, lead singer of the classic rock band, Heart, since age 12.She is the lead lyricist and bassist for Snakes-n-Angels. A neon pink custom 5-string and a pink Peavey Unity bass are her pawns of choice.

JC is known for blending styles of rock, pop and blues’ roots.  He creates wailing rock sounds on various instruments such as an Antique Gold Parker Fly Deluxe, an Ibanez Iceman nicknamed "The Bird", an Ovation 12-string electric acoustic guitar, bousaki, dulcimer, and an Alesis QS8.1 keyboard.

The 43 year old musician has been playing music since he was 5 years old. He attended St. Leo College in Florida for music. He was influenced by 70’s greats, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, as well as Eric Clapton, Sting, Elton John, and Queen.

Last May, JC started having severe headaches on a weekly basis. The headaches became more and more frequent and eventually resulted in him experiencing a slight seizure.

"He was having a conversation with me and one of our friends……His jaw dropped…..and he was talking like he was drunk", said Hoot. "His body went soft like a dish rag…..After that happened, I said, ‘You are going to the doctor now.’"

"The scariest thing was that he did not even know it had happened", said 10 year old daughter, Julia.

When JC met with his physician, he was directed to a neurosurgeon, who found a malignant tumor in his brain. He was admitted into Pitt County Memorial Hospital that day, which was his birthday, May 26, 1999. Two days after his admittance, he underwent a 5 and a half hour emergency procedure to remove the tumor.

Before surgery, doctors informed JC and Nannette that he had a 50% chance of losing his memory----which could have resulted in him forgetting his wife, children, music, and of an additional 50% chance that he would experience paralysis in his limbs.

"I remember when he woke up in the recovery room, the first thing he did was wiggle his toes", said Hoot. "And then he asked to see me and said, ‘Hoot, Hoot, I can wiggle my toes.’"

So far, everything has gone like clock work in JC’s recovery. He injects himself with 3 shots of Interferon a week to fight off possible cancer cells.

Although his recovery has been successful, JC recently lost his father, Rev. Marion Stephenson, on Feb.11, to cancer.

The Stephensons agree that JC’s battle with cancer, as well as his father’s, were major setbacks in releasing their debut CD, not to mention the group funded, wrote, and recorded the songs and designed the cover independently.

"We had to figure it all out on our own…..We are a self-pushed, self-pressed independent band", said JC. "If you live any life, you’ll hit high spots and low spots…..Music and family is what is important and I have tried not to fall into the self pity thing. I want to be able to help others who are going through it because there are a whole lotta folks out there who are going through what I have and worse. It is amazing……You just have to get on with your life. I am fortunate. I’m lucky!"

In an effort to support the fight against cancer, Snakes-n-Angels have performed for various cancer benefits, such as last October’s Cancer Survivor’s Day concert in Greenville. On April 29, 2000, they will perform an acoustic set for Relay For Life in Greenville.

Snakes-n-Angels are working on songs for a new CD, "Back To The Weasel Ranch". They hope it will be in print by Christmas. If interested in catching them live, they will be playing March 3 and 4 at The Station in Roanoke Rapids and on March 31 at Café Arone in Wilson.

"Scenes From A 100 Acre Wood" can be purchased online at many sites, including http://www.theorchard.com/  or visit http://www.snakes-n-angels.com/.