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.
She Doesn't Know It
Jay & The Americans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She doesn't even know
Her voice is the sweetest sound
That I have ever heard
She'll make you believe in love
With the power of her words
If you could hear sunshine
It would be her sweet song
Like you can do no wrong
She doesn't even know
That she lights up the sky
The warmth of her smile
Makes me feel like I can fly
She doesn't even know
That I dream about the day
I can tell her the truth in my soul
And I hope she feels the same
She doesn't even know
She doesn't even know
She knows all my biggest dreams
And all my deepest fears
She knows all my secrets
And she's wiped away my tears
Her hugs can brighten
All my darkest days
When I'm at a loss for words
She knows just what to say, but
She doesn't even know
That she lights up the sky
The warmth of her smile
Makes me feel like I can fly
She doesn't even know
That I dream about the day
I can tell her the truth in my soul
And I hope she feels the same
I hope you feel it
She doesn't even know
She doesn't even know
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah hey
One day I'll find the courage
And she'll finally know
But until then
I'll be her Weeping Willow
She doesn't even know
That she lights up the sky
The warmth of her smile
Makes me feel like I can fly
She doesn't even know
That I dream about the day
I can tell her the truth in my soul
And I hope she feels the same
In the song "She Doesn't Know" by Jay & The Americans, the singer is expressing his feelings for a woman who is completely unaware of the impact she has on him. He starts by describing her voice as the sweetest sound he has ever heard, suggesting that her words have the power to make him believe in love. Her voice is compared to sunshine, as it brings warmth and positivity into his life. The singer views her as someone who can do no wrong and he feels inspired and uplifted by her presence.
The woman in question is oblivious to the fact that she lights up the sky for the singer. Her smile brings him immense joy and makes him feel as if he can accomplish anything, even fly. He dreams of one day being able to tell her his true feelings, hoping that she will feel the same way about him. The singer recognizes that she plays a significant role in his life, knowing his dreams, fears, and secrets. She has a comforting presence and knows just the right things to say to console him when he's at a loss for words.
The singer longs for the day when he will find the courage to express his love and admiration to her. Until then, he will remain like a Weeping Willow, symbolizing his hidden emotions and unrequited love. Despite his desire for her to know how he feels, he understands that it may take time for him to gather the courage to confess his true emotions.
Overall, "She Doesn't Know" portrays the singer's deep affection for a woman who is oblivious to the impact she has on him. It highlights his dreams of expressing his love and hoping for a mutual connection. The song beautifully captures the yearning and longing associated with unrequited feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
She doesn't even know
She is unaware of the impact she has
Her voice is the sweetest sound
Her voice is incredibly pleasant to hear
She'll make you believe in love
She has the ability to inspire faith in love
With the power of her words
Through her words, she can influence and touch hearts
If you could hear sunshine
If sunshine had a sound, it would be her sweet song
She makes you feel
Being around her gives a sense of warmth and joy
Like you can do no wrong
Being in her presence instills a feeling of invincibility
That she lights up the sky
Her presence brings unmatched radiance and brightness
The warmth of her smile
Her smile exudes a comforting and uplifting feeling
Makes me feel like I can fly
Her smile fills me with a sense of boundless freedom and happiness
That I dream about the day
I yearn for the moment when
I can tell her the truth in my soul
I can confess my deepest feelings to her
And I hope she feels the same
I desire for her to share the same emotions
She knows all my biggest dreams
She is aware of my grandest aspirations
And all my deepest fears
She is acquainted with my most profound worries
She knows all my secrets
She is privy to my hidden truths
And she's wiped away my tears
She has brought comfort and solace during moments of sadness
Her hugs can brighten
Her embraces have the power to uplift and illuminate
All my darkest days
Even in my most difficult times, she brings light
When I'm at a loss for words
In moments of speechlessness, she understands
She knows just what to say, but
She possesses the ability to say the right things, although
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement
One day I'll find the courage
In the future, I will gather the bravery
And she'll finally know
And she will come to realize
But until then
However, until that moment
I'll be her Weeping Willow
I will be the one who silently supports her through her challenges
I hope you feel it
I hope you sense the depth of my emotions
Yeah yeah yeah hey
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Sarah Gaire
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind