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.
Pledging My Love
Jay & The Americans Lyrics
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Always and forever I'll love only you
just promise me darling your love in return
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
My heart's at your command dear
To keep love and to hold
Making you happy is my desire dear
I'll forever love you
For the rest of my days
I'll never part from you
Or your loving ways
Just promise me darling your love in return
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
My heart's at your command dear
To keep love and to hold
Making you happy is my desire dear
loving you is my goal
I'll forever love you
For the rest of my days
I'll never part from you
Or your loving ways
Just promise me darling your love in return
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
Jay & The Americans's song "Pledging My Love" is a declaration of eternal love and devotion. The lyrics speak of an unbreakable bond between two people, and a promise to keep that bond alive forever. The singer declares that their love will always be true, and that they will always love only the person they are singing to. They ask only for the promise of love in return, and pledge to keep the fire of their passion burning for all time.
The lyrics of this song are simple and straightforward, expressing the depth of the singer's emotions in a clear and unambiguous way. The repetition of the phrase "just promise me darling your love in return" underscores the importance of the bond between the two people, and emphasizes the singer's need for reassurance that their love is reciprocated. The use of the word "command" in the line "my heart's at your command dear" suggests a sense of surrender to the other person, a willingness to give oneself completely to the relationship.
Overall, "Pledging My Love" is a timeless love song that speaks to the heart of anyone who has ever been deeply in love. Its simple lyrics, sweet melody, and heartfelt delivery make it a classic that continues to touch the hearts of listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Forever my darling my love will be true
I will never stop loving you, my love for you is eternal.
Always and forever I'll love only you
I will love only you and no one else for all of my life.
just promise me darling your love in return
I only ask for your love in return for the love that I give to you.
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
May the passion and love I have for you never die, but continue to burn forever.
My heart's at your command dear
I give you control over my heart, it belongs to you.
To keep love and to hold
I will cherish and hold onto our love forever.
Making you happy is my desire dear
My deepest desire is for you to be happy and loved.
Keeping you is my goal
My ultimate goal is to be with you and keep you forever.
I'll forever love you
I will always and forever love you deeply.
For the rest of my days
I will love you for the rest of my life.
I'll never part from you
I will never leave you or be separated from you.
Or your loving ways
I will never tire of your love and affection.
Contributed by Mason D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.