Miles Jaye
Encyclopedia
Miles Jaye Davis, known professionally as Miles Jaye, is an American
R&B and jazz
singer, violin
ist, songwriter, and record producer. He had several hit
s on the US R&B chart in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the biggest of which was "Let's Start Love Over" in 1987.
, New York City
, and studied music theory
and classical
violin for more than a decade. He also learned keyboards
and bass
while in the US Air Force, and launched his singing career while in an Air Force band. He played with guitarist Eric Gale
and singers Phyllis Hyman
and Jon Lucien
before joining Village People
in the early 1980s. He stayed with the band for two years before launching a solo career and signing to Teddy Pendergrass
' production company. He released an album, Miles, on Island Records
, and the song "Let's Start Love Over," written by Michael Claxton, was released as a single and rose to # 5 on the Billboard
R&B chart in late 1987. Its follow-up, "I've Been a Fool For You" was also a top ten R&B hit. Jaye also contributed, as musician, songwriter and co-producer, to Pendergrass' hit 1988 album, Joy
.
Jaye continued to have hits on the R&B chart until 1991, but failed to match his initial success. He also released two further albums on Island, Irresistible (1989) and Strong (1991), before forming his own company, Black Tree Records, on which he released a string of increasingly jazz
-influenced albums. He has also worked with leading jazz musicians including George Duke
, Roy Ayers
, Grover Washington, Jr.
and Branford Marsalis
.
Jaye's daughter, Asia appeared as the little girl in the "Let's Start Love Over" music video.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
singer, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, songwriter, and record producer. He had several hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
s on the US R&B chart in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the biggest of which was "Let's Start Love Over" in 1987.
Life and career
He was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and studied music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
and classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
violin for more than a decade. He also learned keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
while in the US Air Force, and launched his singing career while in an Air Force band. He played with guitarist Eric Gale
Eric Gale
Eric J. Gale was a leading American jazz and session guitarist.Born in Brooklyn, New York, Gale began playing guitar at the age of 12. Although he majored in chemistry at Niagara University, Gale was determined to pursue a musical career, and began contributing to accompaniments for such stars as...
and singers Phyllis Hyman
Phyllis Hyman
Phyllis Linda Hyman was an American soul singer and actress.-Early years:Phyllis Hyman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in the St. Clair Village, the South Hills section of Pittsburgh...
and Jon Lucien
Jon Lucien
Jon Lucien was born on the island of Tortola, the main island of the British Virgin Islands. Born Lucien Harrigan, and raised in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands by his musician father, Lucien was best known for his song "Rashida", the title track of an album released in 1973, and one of two...
before joining Village People
Village People
Village People is a concept disco group that formed in the United States in 1977, well known for their on-stage costumes depicting American cultural stereotypes, as well as their catchy tunes and suggestive lyrics....
in the early 1980s. He stayed with the band for two years before launching a solo career and signing to Teddy Pendergrass
Teddy Pendergrass
Theodore DeReese "Teddy" Pendergrass was an American R&B/soul singer and songwriter. Pendergrass first rose to fame as lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in the 1970s before a successful solo career at the end of the decade...
' production company. He released an album, Miles, on Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, and the song "Let's Start Love Over," written by Michael Claxton, was released as a single and rose to # 5 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B chart in late 1987. Its follow-up, "I've Been a Fool For You" was also a top ten R&B hit. Jaye also contributed, as musician, songwriter and co-producer, to Pendergrass' hit 1988 album, Joy
Joy (Teddy Pendergrass album)
Joy is the tenth studio album by R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass, released in 1988 on the Elektra label. Production credits on the album were split between Reggie and Vincent Calloway, Nick Martinelli, Miles Jaye and Pendergrass himself....
.
Jaye continued to have hits on the R&B chart until 1991, but failed to match his initial success. He also released two further albums on Island, Irresistible (1989) and Strong (1991), before forming his own company, Black Tree Records, on which he released a string of increasingly jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
-influenced albums. He has also worked with leading jazz musicians including George Duke
George Duke
George Duke is a multi-faceted American musician, known as a keyboard pioneer, composer, singer and producer in both jazz and popular mainstream musical genres. He has worked with numerous acclaimed artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and professor of music...
, Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...
, Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr. was an American jazz-funk / soul-jazz saxophonist. Along with George Benson, John Klemmer, David Sanborn, Bob James, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, and Spyro Gyra, he is considered by many to be one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre.He wrote some of his material and...
and Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.-Biography:Marsalis was born...
.
Jaye's daughter, Asia appeared as the little girl in the "Let's Start Love Over" music video.
Chart singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
||
| 1987 | "Let's Start Love Over" | 5 |
| 1988 | "I've Been A Fool For You" | 10 |
| 1989 | "Objective" | 8 |
| "I'll Be There" | 30 | |
| "Heaven" | 14 | |
| 1990 | "Irresistible" | 42 |
| 1991 | "Sensuous" | 42 |
| "Strong For You" | 67 | |
Albums
- Miles (1987)
- Irresistible (1989)
- Strong (1991)
- Odyssey (1998)
- Celebrate (1999)
- Humanity (2003)
- Divine Ascension (2003)
- Romantic Storm (2004)
- Attenergy (2011)