Jay and the Americans were a pop rock group most popular in the 60s and 70s… Read Full Bio ↴Jay and the Americans were a pop rock group most popular in the 60s and 70s, known for romantic pop hits such as 1969's "This Magic Moment" and 1970's "Walkin' In The Rain". Their initial lineup consisted of Howard Kane (born Kirschenbaum), John (J.T.) Traynor, Kenny Vance (born Rosenberg), and Sandy Yaguda. They were discovered while performing in student venues at New York University in the late 50s.

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.

No Other Love
Jay & The Americans Lyrics

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Every track we drop bitch
Comin wit that hotshit
Do it like no other
I stay supportin the grind bitch
Keep on pushin on the rise
Pullin up in somethin live
Haters get the middle finger
Talkin i dont eva mind

Is yunpot bitch all my verses be hot
And i never gave a fuck about the number 1 spot
Goin in goin off still represent tha south
Keep on pushin keep on grindin bitch you know what this about
The only thing im sellin is these hooks and verses
Back in the lab always leave the mic smokin
Blowin on that bombay loud pack blowin
Catch me on the interstate i-10 motion that way
Every track we drop bitch
Comin wit that hotshit
Do it like no other
I stay supportin the grind bitch
Keep on pushin on the rise
Pullin up in somethin live
Haters get the middle finger
Talkin i dont eva mind
My verses be hot you know them hoes outta site
Round 1 fuck the games its the end of the fight
In the heat of the night goin hard in the paint
Money mind is the game no ls up in this thang
Droppin hit after hit gotta keep it legit
No competition luh baby you know that we is the shit
All american grind goin hard all the time
Fuck you pussy ass hoes you know we stay on the grind
Every track we drop bitch
Comin wit that hotshit
Do it like no other
I stay supportin the grind bitch
Keep on pushin on the rise

Pullin up in somethin live
Haters get the middle finger
Talkin i dont eva mind

Line by Line Meaning

Every track we drop bitch
We consistently release new music

Comin wit that hotshit
Our music is always high-quality and well-received

Do it like no other
We have a distinctive style and approach

I stay supportin the grind bitch
I continue to work hard and support the hustle

Keep on pushin on the rise
We persistently strive for success and progress

Pullin up in somethin live
Arriving in a flashy and impressive way

Haters get the middle finger
We disregard and dismiss negative criticism

Talkin i dont eva mind
I don't let negative comments affect me

My verses be hot you know them hoes outta site
My rap lyrics are highly regarded and impressive

Round 1 fuck the games its the end of the fight
I am determined to emerge victorious and surpass competition