The guys auditioned for the seminal music team of Leiber and Stoller, who gave the group its name in 1960. 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.
They first hit the Billboard charts in 1962 with the tune "She Cried". Later covered by several other artists, the track's highest charting was #5, inspiring the group. The next two singles didn't fare nearly as well, however, and John Traynor left the band. David Black (né David Blatt) of The Empires took his place (after first agreeing to adopt the name Jay Black), and Empires guitarist Marty Sanders also joined. Black sang lead for the rest of the group's existence.
They returned to the charts in 1963 with "Only In America", a song originally meant for The Drifters. Other notable hits for the Americans were "Come a Little Bit Closer" in 1964, which hit #3, and "Cara Mia" in 1965, which hit #4. The Americans 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.
In 1968, they recorded an album of their favorite oldies remade fresh, called Sands of Time, and its single was "This Magic Moment", which also came through the Drifters. That track proved to be the last Top Ten record for the group. However, the band's follow-up album, titled 'Wax Museum', yielded the #19 hit "Walkin' In The Rain". First recorded by The Ronettes, the emotive love song has remained a classic on oldies themed stations along with the group's earlier work.
Their next singles failed to chart, nonetheless, and the band grew apart. The demand for live appearances remained. While the other members moved on to solo musical careers in 1973, Jay Black continued to perform as "Jay and the Americans" or "Jay Black and the Americans" until the 1980s, with a variety of musicians, including Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, who would later found Steely Dan. ."
The group reunited in the 1990s for special performances, most notably the 45 Years of Motown special on PBS.
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 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.
Gypsy Woman
Jay & The Americans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Around the campfire light
A lovely woman in motion
With hair as dark as night
Her eyes were like that of a cat in the dark
That hypnotized me with love
She was a gypsy woman,
She danced around and round to a guitar melody
From the fire her face was all aglow
How she enchanted me
Oh, how I'd like to hold her near
And kiss and forever whisper in her ear
I love you, gypsy woman
I love you, gypsy woman
All through the caravan
She was dancing with all the men
Waiting for the rising sun
Everyone was having fun
I hate to see the lady go
Knowing she'll never know
That I love her, I love her
She was a gypsy woman
a gypsy woman, a gypsy woman, a gypsy woman
The lyrics of Jay & The Americans's song Gypsy Woman describe a magical encounter with a beautiful and mysterious woman. The singer tells the story of how he saw her while sitting around a campfire, captivated by her dark hair and cat-like eyes. She dances to the tune of a guitar, her face glowing in the firelight. The singer is enchanted by her and wishes he could hold her close, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. However, he knows that she will never know how much he loves her.
The song captures the sense of wonder and mystery that surrounds the archetype of the gypsy woman in popular culture. Gypsies, also known as Romani people, are renowned for their nomadic lifestyle and traditional skill sets. They are sometimes viewed as exotic and otherworldly, with supernatural abilities such as fortune-telling and charisma. In the song, the singer is entranced by the woman's beauty and artistry, finding her irresistible and unforgettable.
Line by Line Meaning
From nowhere through a caravan
A mysterious and enchanting woman arrived unexpectedly through a group of travelers.
Around the campfire light
The woman's arrival was accompanied by the flickering light of a campfire.
A lovely woman in motion
The woman moved gracefully and beautifully.
With hair as dark as night
The woman's hair was very dark.
Her eyes were like that of a cat in the dark
Her eyes had the intense, mysterious gaze of a cat in the night.
That hypnotized me with love
The woman's gaze captured the singer's heart and put him under her spell.
She was a gypsy woman
The woman was a member of a wandering community known as gypsies.
She danced around and round to a guitar melody
The woman danced in circles to the sound of a guitar playing.
From the fire her face was all aglow
The light of the fire illuminated the woman's face, making it look radiant.
How she enchanted me
The woman's beauty and grace captivated the singer.
Oh, how I'd like to hold her near
The singer yearned to be close to the woman.
And kiss and forever whisper in her ear
The singer wanted to express his love to the woman and be with her forever.
I love you, gypsy woman
The singer expressed his love for the mysterious woman.
All through the caravan
The woman danced with many men in the traveling group.
She was dancing with all the men
The woman danced with every man in the caravan.
Waiting for the rising sun
The group was enjoying the festive atmosphere, waiting for the morning to come.
Everyone was having fun
Everybody was enjoying themselves, including the singer and the gypsy woman.
I hate to see the lady go
The singer was saddened by the thought of the woman leaving.
Knowing she'll never know
The singer knew that the woman would never know how he truly felt about her.
That I love her, I love her
The singer reiterated his love for the gypsy woman.
a gypsy woman, a gypsy woman, a gypsy woman, a gypsy woman
The singer repeated the woman's identity as a gypsy multiple times, emphasizing her mysterious and alluring presence.
Contributed by Molly L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.