About ChAmJo

Prior to its founding in 1990, ChAmJo Entertainment, LLC, was known as: Nick Miranda Productions, Inc. (1972-1990) and was based in St. Louis, MO, and Beverly Hills, CA.

In the 1980s Mr. Miranda owned and operated an upscale auto dealership that employed 20 full-time employees, and five part-time drivers, and generated revenues in excess of $17 million annually.

Also, Mr. Miranda:

•    Operated Classic Auto Imports, Inc., featuring upscale autos (Rolls Royce, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Jaguar)

      with an international clientele that included; attorneys, prominent business executives, medical professionals, Hollywood film
  
      stars as well as schoolteachers, tradesmen, accountants, and engineers.   

•    Was a major player in the “Grey Market" phenomenon of the 1980s in the United States and personally imported in excess

      of 600 new and used Mercedes Benz automobiles, drop-shipping them to clients around the US, Canada, and Mexico.


•    Was the focus of a feature article (copy on request) in the St. Louis Business Journal (1984) because he was selling almost

      as many new Mercedes’ as the factory authorized local Mercedes-Benz dealer.


•    Bought (in 1984, the 1970 Mercedes 600 Pullman Limousine, owned by Beatle John Lennon and Yoko Ono (a gift from Apple

      Records to John), who later sold it to George Harrison, who in turn, sold it to Mary Wilson of the Supremes (but that’s

      another story). He lent the car to charity organizations that used it for fund-raisers and special public relations events. 


In 1990, Mr. Miranda was the first American auto dealer awarded a “Big Three” (Ford, GM, and Chrysler) auto franchise in Eastern Europe (Yugoslavia), a Ford Franchise in Croatia; just in time to be bombed out of business by the 1990 Croatian-Serbian conflict. That battle ultimately led to Croatia gaining its independence in 1991 as a Democratic Republic, free of Yugoslavia. 

The franchise award was personally spearheaded by Franjo Tudjman (“Father of Croatia”), Croatia’s first president and was "payback" from the grateful, new democratic government for the assistance Mr. Miranda and Mr. Fabian Juric (his Croatian partner) rendered in its (Croatia’s) fight for independence. Messrs. Miranda and Juric traveled frequently in and out of the war-torn capital city of Zagreb at the height of conflict, risking their lives, sometimes under mortar fire and air strikes, carrying support from US supporters and sympathizers.    

Mr. Miranda has been on both ends of the retail and wholesale car market; new and used and has sold primarily used motor vehicles (Hondas, Toyotas, and Mercedes) but did, on occasions, take new car orders from friends and old clients.
 
Even though Mr. Miranda has been in the auto industry for over 35 years, he has enjoyed dual professional passions leading to concurrent careers. His second career is as owner of a theatrical production/management company; ChAmJo Entertainment (ChAmJo; the first two initials of his three children's names: "Chip" (Nick, III; www.nickmiranda.com), Amanda, and Joseph), where he managed the careers of several Hollywood film actors (Jan Michael Vincent, Desi Arnaz, Jr., Dean Martin, Jr.), boxer, and 1976 US Olympic Gold Medal winner (Michael Spinks) and singers (Chuck Berry, Walter Scott (The Cheater) and Steve March Torme' (Mel’s son).  
                                                                                                                  
In 1975, Mr. Miranda formed a film production, artist management partnership with then unknown producer, Charles Roven (The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Batman Begins, Man of Steel, Twelve Monkeys, City of Angels, Scooby-Doo, Get Smart……); Elm Productions that was headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA. Their first (and only) film project together, The Day the Beatles Came to Town, was optioned by Universal Studios but abruptly terminated on the death of Elvis Presley (August, 1977) because of the dramatic escalation (and budget breaker) in “needle drop” (background music snippets for film’s sound track) fees.

In the early 1980s, Mr. Miranda traveled extensively throughout Europe searching for and buying as many Rolls Royce and Bentley motorcars as he could find for a hungry and diversified US, Canadian, and Mexican clientele. Mr. Miranda has bought and sold more than 300 Rolls Royce and Bentley automobiles.

Additionally, he also has written several screenplays for independent films (unproduced), two books (one in editing stage for publication, the other, yet unpublished); produced and directed in excess of 750 live musical stage concerts; produced an infomercial with Cindy Williams (Lavern and Shirley), and executive-produced numerous music CDs, including three for Mr. Torme’.

His experience in TV and film production makes him just savvy enough to know how and when to get out of the way of the film and camera crew and allow them to practice their craft unencumbered. Mr. Miranda readily admits his talents are best served when writing, producing, or directing but not operating the camera.
 
With respect to automobiles, however, he stands second to none in the industry regarding experience, knowledge, and the processes of automobile sales, marketing programs, and auctions. He was in the trenches every day, attended at least two live dealer-only auto auctions every week, and plied his trade with great enthusiasm and vigor.

Mr. Miranda “retired” from the automobile industry in December 2010 to pursue his lifelong, unfulfilled passion; to get a college education and degree. After nearly four years as a full-time student at University of Phoenix, he received a Bachelor of Science in (Business) Management degree in 2014, graduating with Honors (akin to summa cum laude GPA). Immediately thereafter, he enrolled in graduate school (University of Phoenix) where, in December, 2015, he was awarded a Master of Science Degree in Psychology; again, attaining summa cum laude grade point levels. As opposed to pursuing a law degree and following his daughter-who was graduated from Washington University School of Law, in 1990-as originally planned, Mr. Miranda instead, has opted to pursue a Ph.D., in Psychology. It is this pursuit, to which he is now devoting his time and efforts. Currently, Amanda is senior founding partner-together with her husband-in their own law firm (www.earlymiranda.com).

Mr. Miranda continues to work on a variety of projects as a writer, producer, and occasional public speaker. Currently, he is finishing his third book-a loose biographical novel (Baby Doe and the Silver King -a May/December [true] romance) set in the 1890s Colorado silver boom. He also, was founder and Chairman of the Board of Amiracool Technologies, LLC a new medical device start-up attempting to patent and launch an innovative automatic breathing apparatus (the “TrachNeb™”) for tracheotomy patients. The TrachNeb™ is awaiting the issuance of a US patent and anticipates conducting offshore clinical trials in the foreseeable future.

Because of his background and experience, Mr. Miranda is the ideal source for creative projects and could serve as Executive Producer, Producer, Director, or Writer for his own projects or as a Consultant for someone else' creations. He always has been blessed with the ability to recognize true talent and talented artists and that will, heretofore, serve him well in any new endeavors or pursuits.