Jay and the Americans
Encyclopedia
Jay and the Americans was a pop music
group popular in the 1960s. Their initial lineup consisted of John "Jay" Traynor, Howard Kane (né
Kirschenbaum), Kenny Vance
(né Rosenberg) and Sandy Deanne (né Yaguda), though their greatest success on the charts came after Traynor had been replaced as lead singer by Jay Black
.
in the late 1950s. They auditioned for Leiber and Stoller, who gave the group its name. In the manner of the time, Leiber and Stoller wanted to extend this to "Binky Jones and the Americans," but Traynor declined to be known as Binky Jones his whole career. He instead offered up "Jay," a family nickname, and it suited everyone.
," which reached #5 (later covered by The Shangri-Las
, Aerosmith
, and others). The next two singles didn't fare nearly as well, and Traynor left the group. Jay's solo singles made little impression, but one, "Up And Over" issued on ABC in 1966 since became Northern Soul
classic. David Black (né Blatt) of "The Empires" took his place (after first agreeing to adopt the name Jay Black
), and Empires' guitarist Marty Sanders (né Kupersmith) also joined. Black sang lead for the rest of the group's major hits.
They returned to the charts in 1963 with "Only In America," a song originally meant for The Drifters
. Other notable hits for Jay and the Americans were "Come a Little Bit Closer
" in 1964, which hit #3, and "Cara Mia
" in 1965, which hit #4. They also recorded a commercial for H.I.S. Slacks and a public service announcement
for the Ad Council
, featuring a backing track by Brian Wilson
and Phil Spector
. Two tracks from this era later found favour with the Northern Soul
crowd: "Got Hung Up Along The Way" and "Living Above Your Head".
In 1968, they recorded an album of their favorite oldies called Sands of Time
, which included "This Magic Moment
," which was originally done by the Drifters. The single went to #9 in January 1969. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
by the R.I.A.A. in May 1969. "This Magic Moment" was the last top ten record for Jay and the Americans, although a follow-up album, Wax Museum, in January 1970, did yield the #19 hit single "Walkin' In The Rain
," first recorded by The Ronettes
. Their next singles failed to chart, and the band grew apart, but the demand for appearances remained. (Around the same time the band recorded "This Magic Moment," Jay and the Americans member Sandy Yaguda produced a Long Island teen sextet called The Tuneful Trolley. Their late-1968 Capitol LP, Island In The Sky — a hybrid of Beach Boys and Beatlesque psych-pop—was reissued in 2008 in the UK on Now Sounds.)
and Donald Fagen
(of later Steely Dan
fame) on backup bass guitar and electric organ. The original core group reunited in the 1990s for special performances, most notably the 45 Years of Motown special on PBS. Jay was featured in the PBS special Rock, Rhythm, and Doo Wop as "Jay Black & The Americans" in 2001.
David Blatt still tours under his stage name, "Jay Black".Kenny Vance
is currently the lead singer of Kenny Vance and the Planotones, a neo-doo wop band that he formed in the 1970s. After leaving the group, John Traynor recorded a handful of songs on the Coral label, including "I Rise, I Fall" in 1964. None were hits, but "I Rise, I Fall" became a minor hit for Johnny Tillotson. The label billed Traynor as "JAY formerly of Jay and the Americans." Traynor now tours with Jay Siegel's Tokens
.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
group popular in the 1960s. Their initial lineup consisted of John "Jay" Traynor, Howard Kane (né
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Kirschenbaum), Kenny Vance
Kenny Vance
Kenny Vance is an American singer and music producer who was an original member of Jay and the Americans....
(né Rosenberg) and Sandy Deanne (né Yaguda), though their greatest success on the charts came after Traynor had been replaced as lead singer by Jay Black
Jay Black
Jay Black is an American singer, also known as "The Voice," whose height of fame came in the 1960s when he was the lead singer of the band Jay and the Americans. The band had numerous hits including "Cara Mia", "Come a Little Bit Closer", and "This Magic Moment".Black was born in New York and grew...
.
Early years
They were discovered while performing in student venues at New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in the late 1950s. They auditioned for Leiber and Stoller, who gave the group its name. In the manner of the time, Leiber and Stoller wanted to extend this to "Binky Jones and the Americans," but Traynor declined to be known as Binky Jones his whole career. He instead offered up "Jay," a family nickname, and it suited everyone.
Career pinnacle
With Jay Traynor singing lead, they first hit the Billboard charts in 1962 with the tune "She CriedShe Cried
"She Cried" is a song written by Ted Daryll and Greg Richards and was recorded by Jay and the Americans for their 1962 album, She Cried. The song reached #5 on The Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. The song was the group's first major hit....
," which reached #5 (later covered by The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966 they charted with often heartbreaking teen melodramas, and remain best known for "Leader of the Pack" and "Remember ".- Early career :...
, Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, and others). The next two singles didn't fare nearly as well, and Traynor left the group. Jay's solo singles made little impression, but one, "Up And Over" issued on ABC in 1966 since became Northern Soul
Northern soul
Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged from the British mod scene, initially in northern England in the late 1960s. Northern soul mainly consists of a particular style of black American soul music based on the heavy beat and fast tempo of the mid-1960s Tamla Motown sound...
classic. David Black (né Blatt) of "The Empires" took his place (after first agreeing to adopt the name Jay Black
Jay Black
Jay Black is an American singer, also known as "The Voice," whose height of fame came in the 1960s when he was the lead singer of the band Jay and the Americans. The band had numerous hits including "Cara Mia", "Come a Little Bit Closer", and "This Magic Moment".Black was born in New York and grew...
), and Empires' guitarist Marty Sanders (né Kupersmith) also joined. Black sang lead for the rest of the group's major hits.
They returned to the charts in 1963 with "Only In America," a song originally meant for The Drifters
The Drifters
The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
. Other notable hits for Jay and the Americans were "Come a Little Bit Closer
Come A Little Bit Closer
"Come a Little Bit Closer" is a popular song by the 1960s rock and roll band Jay and the Americans that reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964, making it the band's highest ranking single ever . It also peaked at #4 on the Cashbox chart and at #1 on RPM's singles chart...
" in 1964, which hit #3, and "Cara Mia
Cara Mia
"Cara Mia" is a popular song published in 1954 and became a hit for English singer David Whitfield in 1954 and a #4 hit by the American pop group Jay and the Americans in 1965. The title means "my beloved" in Italian....
" in 1965, which hit #4. They also recorded a commercial for H.I.S. Slacks and a public service announcement
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
for the Ad Council
Ad Council
The Advertising Council, commonly known as the Ad Council, is an American non-profit organization that distributes public service announcements on behalf of various sponsors, including non-profit organizations and agencies of the United States government....
, featuring a backing track by Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
and Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
. Two tracks from this era later found favour with the Northern Soul
Northern soul
Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged from the British mod scene, initially in northern England in the late 1960s. Northern soul mainly consists of a particular style of black American soul music based on the heavy beat and fast tempo of the mid-1960s Tamla Motown sound...
crowd: "Got Hung Up Along The Way" and "Living Above Your Head".
In 1968, they recorded an album of their favorite oldies called Sands of Time
Sands of Time (Jay and the Americans album)
Sands of Time is the seventh studio album by Jay and the Americans released on March 15, 1969. The album went to #51 on The Billboard 200. It reached #30 on the Cashbox charts....
, which included "This Magic Moment
This Magic Moment
"This Magic Moment" is the title of a song composed by lyricist Doc Pomus and pianist Mort Shuman. It is one of their best known successes. It was recorded first by Ben E. King with The Drifters and scored #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 during 1960...
," which was originally done by the Drifters. The single went to #9 in January 1969. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the R.I.A.A. in May 1969. "This Magic Moment" was the last top ten record for Jay and the Americans, although a follow-up album, Wax Museum, in January 1970, did yield the #19 hit single "Walkin' In The Rain
Walking in the Rain (The Ronettes song)
"Walking in the Rain" is a song written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector, and Cynthia Weil and was recorded by The Ronettes in 1964. The song reached #23 on The Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. The song also reached #28 on the R&B Singles chart in 1965. The song is the only Phil Spector produced song to win...
," first recorded by The Ronettes
The Ronettes
The Ronettes were a 1960s girl group from New York City, best known for their work with producer Phil Spector. The group consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett ; her older sister, Estelle Bennett; and their cousin Nedra Talley...
. Their next singles failed to chart, and the band grew apart, but the demand for appearances remained. (Around the same time the band recorded "This Magic Moment," Jay and the Americans member Sandy Yaguda produced a Long Island teen sextet called The Tuneful Trolley. Their late-1968 Capitol LP, Island In The Sky — a hybrid of Beach Boys and Beatlesque psych-pop—was reissued in 2008 in the UK on Now Sounds.)
Decline
The group split in 1973. All of the members moved on to solo musical careers, with the exception of Jay Black, who continued to perform as "Jay and the Americans." Black continued until the 1980s with a variety of musicians, at one point briefly including the young Walter BeckerWalter Becker
Walter Carl Becker is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist and a co-writer of Steely Dan.-Career:...
and Donald Fagen
Donald Fagen
Donald Jay Fagen is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the co-founder, lead singer, and the principal songwriter of the rock band Steely Dan ....
(of later Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
fame) on backup bass guitar and electric organ. The original core group reunited in the 1990s for special performances, most notably the 45 Years of Motown special on PBS. Jay was featured in the PBS special Rock, Rhythm, and Doo Wop as "Jay Black & The Americans" in 2001.
Sale of the band name and "reunion"
In 2006, Jay Black filed for bankruptcy due to gambling debts, and his ownership of the name "Jay & The Americans" was sold by the bankruptcy trustee to Sandy Deanne (Yaguda), Black's former band mate and original member of Jay & The Americans for $100,000 to pay Black's debts. With the name purchase, former members Deanne, Howard Kane, and Marty Sanders reunited, and recruited a sound-alike singer from Chicago, coincidentally nicknamed "Jay." Thus, John "Jay" Reincke became the third "Jay" and the band returned to playing both national and international music venues. Their show covers the history of Jay and The Americans, acknowledging all three Jays and featuring all of the top hits in their original arrangements.David Blatt still tours under his stage name, "Jay Black".Kenny Vance
Kenny Vance
Kenny Vance is an American singer and music producer who was an original member of Jay and the Americans....
is currently the lead singer of Kenny Vance and the Planotones, a neo-doo wop band that he formed in the 1970s. After leaving the group, John Traynor recorded a handful of songs on the Coral label, including "I Rise, I Fall" in 1964. None were hits, but "I Rise, I Fall" became a minor hit for Johnny Tillotson. The label billed Traynor as "JAY formerly of Jay and the Americans." Traynor now tours with Jay Siegel's Tokens
The Tokens
The Tokens are an American male doo-wop-style vocal group from Brooklyn, New York. They are known best for their chart-scoring 1961 single, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" .-Career:...
.
Hit Singles
- She CriedShe Cried"She Cried" is a song written by Ted Daryll and Greg Richards and was recorded by Jay and the Americans for their 1962 album, She Cried. The song reached #5 on The Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. The song was the group's first major hit....
(BB #5, CB #4)/ Dawning—United Artists 415—1962 - Only In America (BB #25, CB #28) / My Clair De Lune—United Artists 626—1963
- Come Dance With Me (BB #76, CB #82) / Look In My Eyes Maria—United Artists 669—1963
- Come A Little Bit CloserCome A Little Bit Closer"Come a Little Bit Closer" is a popular song by the 1960s rock and roll band Jay and the Americans that reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964, making it the band's highest ranking single ever . It also peaked at #4 on the Cashbox chart and at #1 on RPM's singles chart...
(BB #3, CB #4) / Goodbye Boys, Goodbye—United Artists 759—1964 - Let's Lock The Door (And Throw Away The Key) (BB #11, CB #10) / I'll Remember You—United Artists 805—1965
- Think Of The Good Times (BB #57, CB #54) / If You Were Mine, Girl—United Artists 845—1965
- Cara MiaCara Mia"Cara Mia" is a popular song published in 1954 and became a hit for English singer David Whitfield in 1954 and a #4 hit by the American pop group Jay and the Americans in 1965. The title means "my beloved" in Italian....
(BB #4, CB #4) / When It's All Over—United Artists 881—1965 - Some Enchanted Evening (BB #13, CB #15) / Girl—United Artists 919—1965
- Sunday and Me (BB #18, CB #20) / Through This Doorway—United Artists 948—1965
- Why Can't You Bring Me Home (BB #63, CB #55) / Baby Stop Your Cryin' -- United Artists 992—1966
- Crying (BB #25, CB #32) / I Don't Need A Friend—United Artists 50016—1966
- Livin' Above Your Head (BB #76, CB #78) / Look At Me, What Do You See—United Artists 50046—1966
- (He's) Raining In My Sunshine (BB #90, CB #62) / The Reason For Living (For You My Darling) -- United Artists 50094—1966
- (We'll Meet In The) Yellow Forest (BB #131, CB #93) / Got Hung Up Along The Way—United Artists 50196—1967
- No Other LoveNo Other Love (1953 song)"No Other Love" is a show tune from the 1953 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Me and Juliet.Richard Rodgers originally composed this tune for the NBC television series Victory at Sea...
(BB #114) / No, I Don't Know Her—United Artists 50510—50282—1968 - This Magic MomentThis Magic Moment"This Magic Moment" is the title of a song composed by lyricist Doc Pomus and pianist Mort Shuman. It is one of their best known successes. It was recorded first by Ben E. King with The Drifters and scored #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 during 1960...
(BB #6, CB #5) / Since I Don't Have YouSince I Don't Have You"Since I Don't Have You" is a song by the doo-wop group The Skyliners. Released in 1958, the single reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also the top five of the R&B chart...
—United Artists 50475—1969 - When You Dance (BB #70, CB #41) / No, I Don't Know Her—United Artists 50510—1969
- Walkin' In The RainWalking in the Rain (The Ronettes song)"Walking in the Rain" is a song written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector, and Cynthia Weil and was recorded by The Ronettes in 1964. The song reached #23 on The Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. The song also reached #28 on the R&B Singles chart in 1965. The song is the only Phil Spector produced song to win...
(BB #19, CB #14) / For The Love Of A Lady—United Artists 50605—1969 - Capture The Moment (BB #57, CB #45) / Do You Ever Think Of Me—United Artists 50654—1970
- Do I Love You / Tricia (Tell Your Daddy) (BB #93, CB #81) -- United Artists 50683—1970
- There Goes My Baby (BB #90, CB #88) / Solitary Man—United Artists 50858—1971
Albums
- She Cried—United Artists UAL-3222 (Mono)/UAS-6222 (Stereo) -- 1962
- At the Cafe Wha? -- United Artists UAL-3300/UAS-6300—1963
- Come A Little Bit Closer (BB #131, CB #88) -- United Artists UAL-3407 (CB #84)/UAS-6407—1964
-
- Peaked at #84 on Cashbox Mono albums chart, dropped to #88 the following week when the Mono and Stereo album charts were merged in January 1965
- Blockbusters (BB #113, CB #73) -- United Artists UAL-3417/UAS-6417—1965
- Jay & The Americans Greatest Hits (BB #21, CB #58) -- United Artists UAL-3453/UAS-6453—1965
- Sunday and Me (BB #141) -- United Artists UAL-3474/UAS-6474—1966
- Livin' Above Your Head—United Artists UAL-3534/UAS-6534—1966
- Jay & The Americans Greatest Hits, Volume 2 (CB #79) -- United Artists UAL-3555/UAS-6555—1966
- Try Some Of This! -- United Artists UAL-3562/UAS-6562—1967
- Jay & The Americans!! -- Sunset SUS-5252—1968
- Sands Of TimeSands of Time (Jay and the Americans album)Sands of Time is the seventh studio album by Jay and the Americans released on March 15, 1969. The album went to #51 on The Billboard 200. It reached #30 on the Cashbox charts....
(BB #51, CB #30) -- United Artists UAS-6671—1969 - Early American Hits—Sunset SUS-5278—1969
- Wax Museum, Vol. 1Wax Museum, Vol. 1Wax Museum, Vol. 1 is the eighth studio album by Jay and the Americans released on February 28, 1970. The album went to #105 on The Billboard 200. It reached #68 on the Cashbox charts...
(BB #105, CB #68) -- United Artists UAS-6719—1970 - Wax Museum, Volume 2 -- United Artists UAS-6751—1970
- Capture The Moment—United Artists UAS-6762—1970
- The Very Best of Jay & The Americans—United Artists UA-LA357-E -- 1975
- Jay & The Americans Greatest Hits—United Artists LM-1010—1980
- Reissue of original 1965 compilation, also released in 1981 on Liberty with same catalogue number
- Sweeter than Wine recorded and released in 2009
- Peaked at #84 on Cashbox Mono albums chart, dropped to #88 the following week when the Mono and Stereo album charts were merged in January 1965
- 'Til the End of Time recorded and released in 2009
External links
- The new Jay and the Americans web site
- Jay Black's website
- Jay Traynor and the Americans article
- 'Jay and The Americans' Vocal Group Hall of Fame Page
- History of Jay and the Americans
- http://www.srv.net/~roxtar/jay_&_the_americans.htmlDescriptions of and lyrics for the songs on the best-of compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Come a Little Bit Closer]