Turning your passion into a career is what everyone strives for in life—whether it be music, arts, sports, or being the next big internet sensation. Making it happen on a daily basis and being able to support yourself is something few people can attain. When Kevin Nelson made the jump from former retail manager to sound production/booking agent and then radio personality, he really had no plan—just an idea that he wanted to pursue something in life he loved.
Starting out in music around the age of four, he grabbed his older brother’s neglected guitar, and it was soon obvious to his parents that he had a strong draw to playing. He was signed up for guitar lessons with Jeff Trace, who would go on to be his music teacher throughout his grade and high school years. In high school, he was trained on trombone to learn the bass side of the musical scale, while mastering the treble side with his after-school guitar lessons. He went to HACC for a two-year degree in the Music Business Program and was awarded a scholarship to attend the infamous NAMM Show in California. He flew across the country by himself at the age of 19 and explored the massive show, checking out the latest gear and dropping résumés along the way, hoping for that big break into a musical career.
Getting caught up in the “retail” world, he quickly found himself moving up the ranks to manager status—it all felt right at the time. He turned his musical passion into a hobby versus a career, focusing on his band Adrian Blitzer. Formed in 1999 straight out of high school, he and Andy Smith started one of the Perry County bands of the day, playing alongside the ever-popular Dingle Berry Short Cake. They opened for them on their first show at the infamous Perry County Inn. These were the days when everyone went out to see the show—standing room only on band night. Believe it or not, it was our “social media,” but we did it in person: catching up with friends and hopefully meeting some new ones. Blitzer quickly became part of the regular lineup of bands playing the area, alongside Dingle Berry Short Cake, Big Daddy, and more.
Playing with Blitzer pushed him into a new passion—recording tracks, perfecting sound, and keeping up with the newest gadgets and software. Kevin went from analog to digital and embraced all the newest technology along the way. Always tinkering with anything sound-related, he spent countless hours playing with software and updating equipment.
Fast forward 20-some years and Kevin found himself at the end of a pandemic with no job and a lot of free time. Hanging out around Sherman’s Creek Inn playing open mics with Andy, he ran into Troy, who after a couple of conversations enlisted him for some special-needs sound projects. A relationship formed, and Kevin soon found himself helping more and more around the Creek—from sound production and booking bands to house DJ, finding new talent, and creating fun and exciting events. Kevin has worn many hats along the way, and Troy has retained his services ever since.
With the help of Troy, through a mutual acquaintance, Kevin ended up taking a tour of Red 102.3 for a possible internship for his son Carter. He left with a full-time job producing commercial slots and a Sunday pre-recorded show with his son as his paid production assistant. It turned out he was very familiar with all of their software and was able to step in and start helping around the station immediately. It was a perfect fit for Kevin, and he soon took over the midday show. He has since moved into the popular afternoon drive slot, “Cruzin’ with KJ Nelson,” from 2–7 p.m. every weekday.
Along with his Creek and Red 102.3 duties, Kevin is also involved in a plethora of bands, with an ever-changing number of projects on the go. With the conclusion of Adrian Blitzer this year and the recent ending of Zavala, the Sherman’s Creek Inn house band, he still finds himself working on three projects—maybe four, depending on how he’s feeling.
First up is Shine Through The Shade, a duo consisting of Blitzer cohort Andy Smith on vocals, with Kevin on guitar and vocals. Covering music from the ’60s through today’s modern and classic rock, with some heavy rap vibes thrown in from time to time, they’re known for drinking Jägermeister, getting a little loose, and even taking requests—depending on how much of the green substance makes its way in front of them.
Next up is Love Rocket, a full five-piece party rock band focusing on the ’80s and ’90s, with some modern music thrown into the mix. With their signature style of twisting takes on modern hits—from Bruno Mars to Alice in Chains—these guys bring the party and are also heavily Jäger-influenced (noticing a trend here). The band consists of Mike Musson (lead singer/guitar), Brian Finney (bass), James Waller (lead guitar), Kevin Daboin (drums), and Kevin Nelson handling lead guitar, keyboard, and vocals. While the focus has been covers, the band hopes to start working on original material in the near future.
His third project underway is a more intimate affair Date Night—a duo with his beautiful wife Melissa on vocals, as Kevin plays keys and guitar while backing his true love with vocals and harmonies. They bring back the ballads we all love, with songs from Alanis Morissette, Cyndi Lauper, and Toto’s Africa, along with many more of your favorite ’80s and ’90s hits. You can catch this duo performing a special Valentine’s Day celebration, “Date Night,” on February 14 at The Crossroads Wine Shop on Newville Road in Carlisle. The show includes a couple of dinner options and starts with your meal at 6 p.m., followed by music from 7–9 p.m. Check out the flyer at the end of the article and make reservations now, as seating is limited.
On top of all this, Kevin has two bands nominated for this year’s CPMAs “Best Cover Band,” with both Adrian Blitzer and Love Rocket getting the nod. Kevin isn’t too concerned about winning—he’s just honored to be included and hopes to spend a well-earned night with all his bandmates and lots of Jäger.
When asked if this was the end for Blitzer fans, the answer was a bit skeptical. While a full return of the band isn’t in the cards at this time, there is talk of possibly releasing original music under the Adrian Blitzer name. Think heavy new metal sounds influenced by Korn, Limp Bizkit, Deftones, and all your other break-stuff-type bands. Let’s bring it, guys!
So what does it take to leave the retail and corporate world behind and pursue your dreams? Determination and sacrifice, along with being in the right place at the right time—and saying yes to the opportunities given. Kevin’s passion as an audio engineer led him to explore new ways of producing and recording music. Little did he know his hobby was preparing him for his future career. To be successful, Kevin has had to stay open-minded and quickly realized that his time is essential. From producing his daily show to running events at the Creek, every hour gets filled, leaving little time for anything else. Success in this field means giving up the regular 9–5 hours and accepting the lifestyle of late nights and early mornings it takes to get the job done.
So if you see Kevin out late one night pulling DJ duties at the Creek, let him know you appreciate his hard work—buy him a shot of Jäger and share a story or two. These unsung heroes of the local music scene are the people who help keep the ship afloat and the music flowing. Check out his radio show weekdays on RED 102.3, and see the links below for more info and show dates for all his bands.
www.facebook.com/LoveRocketBandand
www.facebook.com/Red1023fm
www.facebook.com/ShineThroughTheShade
www.facebook.com/ShermansCreekInn
