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.
Howie Kane passed in 2023 due to injuries from a car accident. His replacement is Darren Dowler of Paul Revere & The Raiders, who sings Kenny’s part and occasionally fills in for Sandy Deanne who has cut back his tour dates.
Run to My Lovin' Arms
Jay & The Americans Lyrics
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And the sounds of this cruel world
Are ringing in your ears
Darling, when the night surrounds you
And there's darkness all around you
Baby, baby, don't you worry
I'll be there, and you can
Run to my loving arms
They'll keep you warm and hold you tight
If you just run to my loving arms
They'll take you in and make things right
When you're feeling like you wanna cry
And there's no one who's got time
To sit and wonder why
When you need someone to hear you
To say a word or just be near you
Baby baby, I will always be close by
And you can
Run to my loving arms
They'll keep you warm and hold you tight
If you just run to my loving arms
They'll take you in and make things right
Run to my loving arms
The lyrics of Jay & The Americans's song Run to My Lovin' Arms speak to a person who is going through a tough time and feeling alone. The singer offers comfort and support, telling the listener that they do not have to face their troubles alone. When the world is harsh and overwhelming, and tears fill their eyes, the singer assures the listener that they will be there to hold and comfort them. The message is one of overwhelming reassurance and tenderness, expressed through the use of romantic, comforting language.
Throughout the song, the singer paints a picture of a person who is struggling in life, and is in need of a safe haven. The singer promises to be that safe haven, offering comfort and love when the listener needs it most. The imagery of the loving arms is a powerful one, symbolizing protection and safety. The message of the song is ultimately one of hope, emphasizing the power of love and the importance of being there for those we love when they need us the most.
Overall, "Run to My Lovin' Arms" is a simple yet powerful song that speaks to the human need for comfort and love. With its gentle melody and reassuring lyrics, the song offers hope and encouragement, reminding listeners that they are not alone in their struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
When your pretty eyes are filled with tears
When you're crying, with your eyes filled to the brim with tears
And the sounds of this cruel world
And the harsh noises of the world around you
Are ringing in your ears
Are reverberating through your mind, causing distress
Darling, when the night surrounds you
When you feel trapped in the darkness of the night
And there's darkness all around you
With a sense of overwhelming darkness enveloping you
Baby, baby, don't you worry
Baby, don't worry, I'm here for you
I'll be there, and you can
I'll be there, just for you and you can
Run to my loving arms
Come and seek refuge in my loving arms
They'll keep you warm and hold you tight
I'll keep you warm and safe, and hold you tightly
If you just run to my loving arms
If you simply come to me with your troubles
They'll take you in and make things right
I'll take you in, make everything right and comfort you
When you're feeling like you wanna cry
When you feel like crying
And there's no one who's got time
And there's nobody who has time for you
To sit and wonder why
To ponder your problems, struggles, and sufferings
When you need someone to hear you
When you need someone to listen to you
To say a word or just be near you
To talk to you or be with you, without saying anything
Baby baby, I will always be close by
Baby, I'll always be near you
And you can
And you can
Contributed by Juliana R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.