Gregory Slay
Encyclopedia
Gregory Scott Slay was an American musician, drummer and songwriter. Slay was a founding member of Remy Zero
and remained the band's drummer until its breakup in 2003.
, on May 10, 1969, to parents, Dudley and Jenny Slay. However, he was raised in Mobile, Alabama
. Slay was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis
during childhood.
Slay attended both Davidson High School
and McGill-Toolen Catholic High School
in Mobile. He began collaborating with Jeffrey Cain, another future member of Remy Zero, while in high school.
, the band performed live in venues along the Gulf Coast and throughout the southeastern United States, settling for awhile in Nashville, Tennessee
. Loppybogymi developed a cult following along the Gulf Coast. The band's performances were notable for the virtuosity of each member of the group, high energy, and lengthy improvisational excursions. Each member of the trio sang, and Slay sang prominently on a number of songs, including crowd favorites such as "Debts and Grudges" and "Love of Pete." Slay left Loppybogymi about a year after the band's release of the album, TUP, in 1993.
with high school friend, Jeffrey Cain, who was also from Mobile, and Cedric LeMoyne, Cinjun Tate and Shelby Tate, who were all natives of Birmingham. The band left Birmingham in 1990, relocated to several cities before settling in Los Angeles. Slay returned to Birmingham with his band in 1996, where they recorded they self titled debut album, Remy Zero
. The band later became a commercial success with their 1998 sophomore album, Villa Elaine
.
Remy Zero became best known to television audiences for "Save Me
", the theme song to Smallville
. However, Remy Zero disbanded in 2003 after three albums.
. Slay became the drummer for O+S, a collaborative effort between Orenda Fink
and Cedric LeMoyne, another former member of Remy Zero.
In 2003, Slay joined with former Remy Zero bandmates Jeffrey Cain and Cedric LeMoyne, to record, "A Perfect Lie", the theme song for the television drama, Nip/Tuck
, under the name Engine Room. "A Perfect Lie", which Slay co-wrote, earned an Emmy nomination for outstanding main title theme music
in 2004.
Slay, who had been touring and recording in the studio in the weeks preceding his death, unexpectedly fell into ill health. Slay died on January 1, 2010, of cystic fibrosis
in Bodega Bay, California
, at the age of 40. He was survived by his parents, his wife, Tiana Krahn-Slay, and daughter, Honeymoon Slay.
A public memorial was held for Slay in May 2010.
Remy Zero
Remy Zero were a Birmingham, Alabama-based alternative rock band made up of Cinjun Tate , Shelby Tate , Cedric LeMoyne , Jeffrey Cain and Gregory Slay prior to his death in January 2010.-History:Before Remy Zero had released any full length albums, Radiohead found their demo tape and invited...
and remained the band's drummer until its breakup in 2003.
Early life
Slay was born in New Orleans, LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, on May 10, 1969, to parents, Dudley and Jenny Slay. However, he was raised in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
. Slay was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine...
during childhood.
Slay attended both Davidson High School
Davidson High School (Mobile, Alabama)
W. P. Davidson High School is a four-year senior high school located in Mobile, Alabama. Its first class graduated in 1963. The school operates in the Mobile County Public School System...
and McGill-Toolen Catholic High School
McGill-Toolen Catholic High School
McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, located in Mobile, Alabama, is a private co-educational high school operated by the educational system of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile.-History:...
in Mobile. He began collaborating with Jeffrey Cain, another future member of Remy Zero, while in high school.
Loppybogymi
In 1988, Slay co-founded the trio, Loppybogymi, with bassist, James Orr, and guitarist, Tim Ramenofsky. The band's sound was an amalgamation of jazz-inspired funk and metal. Initially based in Mobile, AlabamaMobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, the band performed live in venues along the Gulf Coast and throughout the southeastern United States, settling for awhile in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. Loppybogymi developed a cult following along the Gulf Coast. The band's performances were notable for the virtuosity of each member of the group, high energy, and lengthy improvisational excursions. Each member of the trio sang, and Slay sang prominently on a number of songs, including crowd favorites such as "Debts and Grudges" and "Love of Pete." Slay left Loppybogymi about a year after the band's release of the album, TUP, in 1993.
Remy Zero
Slay co-founded Remy Zero in Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
with high school friend, Jeffrey Cain, who was also from Mobile, and Cedric LeMoyne, Cinjun Tate and Shelby Tate, who were all natives of Birmingham. The band left Birmingham in 1990, relocated to several cities before settling in Los Angeles. Slay returned to Birmingham with his band in 1996, where they recorded they self titled debut album, Remy Zero
Remy Zero (album)
-Credits:*High-hat - Stewart Copeland *Engineer [Mix] - Frankie Blue*Mastered By - Bob Ludwig*Mixed By - Remy Zero , Ronnie S. Champagne* *Performer - Cedric Lemoyne , Cinjun Tate , Jeffrey Cain , Shelby Tate...
. The band later became a commercial success with their 1998 sophomore album, Villa Elaine
Villa Elaine
Villa Elaine is a 1998 album by Remy Zero, and was produced for Geffen Records. After recording the album, Radiohead, who the band had toured with previously, added Remy Zero to their OK Computer tour. The album became popular for the song "Prophecy", which was used on the soundtrack for the movies...
.
Remy Zero became best known to television audiences for "Save Me
Save Me (Remy Zero song)
"Save Me" is a song by rock band Remy Zero. Taken from their album The Golden Hum, it reached #27 on the United States Billboard Modern Rock Charts, and acts as the theme song for the Superman-based television series Smallville....
", the theme song to Smallville
Smallville
Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
. However, Remy Zero disbanded in 2003 after three albums.
Later career
Following the breakup of Remy Zero, Slay turned his attention to other projects. He formed another band called Sleepwell. He also collaborated in other projects with singer-songwriter Eliot MorrisEliot Morris
- Biography :Eliot Morris grew up one of six kids in his parents' house in Mobile, Alabama. A typical southern upbringing with typical boyhood interest, until the day his father brought home a CD player and a Motown compilation. He met Chris Sevier and the two began writing and recording songs and...
. Slay became the drummer for O+S, a collaborative effort between Orenda Fink
Orenda Fink
Orenda Fink is a musician on Saddle Creek Records.Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Fink was half of the Southern dream pop duo Azure Ray from 2001 to 2004. Fink is also a former member of Now It's Overhead, another Saddle Creek band. She released her first full-length solo album Invisible Ones on...
and Cedric LeMoyne, another former member of Remy Zero.
In 2003, Slay joined with former Remy Zero bandmates Jeffrey Cain and Cedric LeMoyne, to record, "A Perfect Lie", the theme song for the television drama, Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck is an American drama series created by Ryan Murphy, which aired on FX in the United States. The series focuses on McNamara/Troy, a plastic surgery practice, and follows its founders, Sean McNamara and Christian Troy...
, under the name Engine Room. "A Perfect Lie", which Slay co-wrote, earned an Emmy nomination for outstanding main title theme music
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music
This is a list of the winning and nominated programs of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music.-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:...
in 2004.
Slay, who had been touring and recording in the studio in the weeks preceding his death, unexpectedly fell into ill health. Slay died on January 1, 2010, of cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine...
in Bodega Bay, California
Bodega Bay, California
Bodega Bay is a town and census-designated place in Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 1,077 at the 2010 census. The town is on the eastern side of Bodega Harbor, an inlet of Bodega Bay on the Pacific coast....
, at the age of 40. He was survived by his parents, his wife, Tiana Krahn-Slay, and daughter, Honeymoon Slay.
A public memorial was held for Slay in May 2010.
As Horsethief Beats
- The Sound Will Find You (Posthumously released in 2010 under the name Gregory Scott Slay)