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.
Here There and Everywhere
Jay & The Americans Lyrics
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I need my love to be here
Here, making each day of the year
Changing my life with a wave of her hand
Nobody can deny that there's something there
There, running my hands through her hair
Both of us thinking how good it can be
[Chorus: x2]
I want her everywhere
And if she's beside me I know I need never care
But to love her is to need her everywhere
Knowing that love is to share
Each one believing that love never dies
Watching her eyes and hoping I'm always there
I will be there
And everywhere
Here, there and everywhere
The song "Here, There and Everywhere" by Jay & The Americans is a classic love ballad that talks about the need for love to lead a better life. The lyrics reveal a deep longing for the presence of the person the singer is in love with, wanting them to be present every day of the year. The singer is convinced that his life would change if the person he loves is with him, and he believes that nobody can deny that there is something special about their connection.
The chorus emphasizes the importance of the person's presence, stating that "to love her is to need her everywhere." The singer hopes to be there for the person he loves, watching her eyes and hoping he is always present in her life. The phrase "Here, there, and everywhere" is used throughout the song to suggest that the person's presence is essential to the singer, no matter where he is.
Overall, the lyrics of "Here, There and Everywhere" convey a deep sense of love, longing, and the need for companionship. The message is timeless, and the song remains a classic in the world of love ballads.
Line by Line Meaning
To lead a better life
In order to improve my life
I need my love to be here
My happiness depends on having my beloved with me
Here, making each day of the year
With her presence, every day is special and meaningful
Changing my life with a wave of her hand
With a simple gesture, she has the power to transform my life
Nobody can deny that there's something there
Everyone can sense that there is a unique connection between us
There, running my hands through her hair
In those moments, I feel an intimate closeness with her
Both of us thinking how good it can be
We both imagine the happiness we can bring to each other
Someone is speaking, but she doesn't know he's there
She is unaware of anyone else around her because her attention is focused on me
I want her everywhere
I desire to have her with me always
And if she's beside me I know I need never care
As long as she is with me, I am content and worry-free
But to love her is to need her everywhere
Loving her means needing her presence in all aspects of my life
Knowing that love is to share
True love involves sharing everything with each other
Each one believing that love never dies
Both of us have faith that our love is forever
Watching her eyes and hoping I'm always there
I gaze into her eyes and hope to always be a part of her life
I will be there
I promise to always be there for her
And everywhere
No matter where life takes us, I will follow her
Here, there and everywhere
My love for her knows no bounds or limitations
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind