Our journey began as a musical husband and wife who saw talent in our children and decided to build them up with affirming melodies and lyrics. Beginning with "Here's a Song Each Child Should Sing" Diane found deep satisfaction creating uplifting and wholesome music for children of all ages. In 1982 Dellane formed the Jessop Family Singers, a family performing ensemble, while Diane and her daughte
r Melanie created The V.I.P. Singers, a singing group for children in the community. The Jessop Family Singers and The VIP’s performed many exciting and inspiring programs for church, school, civic and senior home events using several of Diane’s original children’s songs. Our main goals were to build children’s self-esteem, give them fun, wholesome experiences with music, introduce them to service, improve their singing and entertaining skills and make them feel like they were all “stars,” or… VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE! DelAnne held her own in both groups singing her first solo at age three. After years of successful singing groups, Diane began teaching elementary school in the mid 1990’s. One year she taught and directed six first grade classes in two separate performances. Afterwards, the principal Peggy Sorenson announced to the audience: “You rarely see and hear a program of this quality in public school.”
Years have passed and music and service have continued to bind us together. For 23 years Dellane served as director of the West Jordan City Band with Diane playing the orchestra bells and DelAnne singing many solos. In recent years we began discussing selling our original compositions. After much deliberation we agreed our main objective is not only to get Diane’s positive, wholesome songs into the hands of as many children as possible, but to create more opportunities for happiness and joy for others through uplifting musical experiences. This objective led to the creation of the Hold Us and Love Us Music Foundation. We aim to donate music lessons, song books, children's books, cd's, and live performances, and more. We want children everywhere to improve their lives in the following ways: 1. realize they’re born with as much worth as anyone else because they are human and children of the Earth; 2. love themselves and discover their divine spirit within; 3. identify blessings and appreciate them in the present moment; 4. Develop a healthy self-image and balanced identity with self-respect; 5. use their imagination in a joyful way; 6. get along with others; courtesy and respect; communication and problem solving skills; 7. experience how the joy of music can lift our moods; 8. celebrate the good things in life; 9. feel joy and appreciation of American holidays and the beauty of our world and its seasons; 10. learn what it means to be a patriotic American; 11. value relationships with family, friends and other special people in our lives.
