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.
Something in My Eye
Jay & The Americans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just because, you found another guy.
I don't really mind it.
I'm not really cryin'
Oh no, it's just something in my eye.
I suppose, you think my heart is breakin'.
Well, you're wrong. You'll never see me cry.
I'm not really cryin'
Oh no, it's just something in my eye.
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Congratulations, darlin', I don't mind.
True love is really very easy to find.
Little girl, I'm very happy for you.
Just be quick, when you say goodbye.
I don't really mind it.
I'm not really cryin'
Oh no, it's just something in my eye.
Ooh-ooh-ooh
I'm not really cryin'.
No, no, no.
There's just something in my eye.
Something in my eye.
The lyrics to Jay & The Americans's song Something in My Eye seem to be about a breakup, where the singer is telling a girl not to worry about him because he's not truly upset about her leaving him for another guy. He insists that he's not really crying, but rather there's "just something in my eye." This could be interpreted as him trying to save face and not show his true emotions or simply acknowledging that he's not heartbroken over the breakup.
As the song progresses, the singer congratulates the girl on finding true love and encourages her to be quick when saying goodbye. He seems to be taking the high road and accepting the situation, not holding any grudges or bitterness towards her. The final repetition of "I'm not really cryin', no, no, no, there's just something in my eye" emphasizes this point.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of maturity and acceptance in the face of a difficult situation, which is a refreshing change from more traditional breakup songs that focus on heartbreak and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Little girl, don't worry for a moment.
Don't worry, everything is going to be okay.
Just because, you found another guy.
Just because you found someone else doesn't mean I'm upset.
I don't really mind it.
It doesn't bother me.
I'm not really cryin'.
I'm not actually crying.
Oh no, it's just something in my eye.
I have something in my eye that's making it look like I'm crying.
I suppose, you think my heart is breakin'.
You must think I'm heartbroken.
Well, you're wrong. You'll never see me cry.
You're mistaken. I won't cry over this.
Congratulations, darlin', I don't mind.
Congratulations, I'm not upset.
True love is really very easy to find.
Finding true love is easy.
Little girl, I'm very happy for you.
I'm genuinely happy for you.
Just be quick, when you say goodbye.
Just say goodbye quickly.
I'm not really cryin'.
I'm still not actually crying.
No, no, no.
No, really, I'm not crying.
There's just something in my eye.
I have something in my eye that's making it water.
Contributed by Mila I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Denise Kent
EVERY song that Jay sings touches my heart...thank you Jay for being there for all of us, you are the BEST!!! Wishing you well.....
David Sutton
RIP “THE VOICE” DAVID BLATT AKA
JAY BLACK - A talent like yours will be missed. You’re once in a few generations voice was so dynamic.
Condolences to his family and to his fans.
Cari Coyle
I love this group, I grew up with them. I still listen with wonder, what a great voice Jay has even to this day
Bob
Jay is incomparable; nobody has a better voice, but the Americans provide great backup, too.
Richard Betz
Well Jay and Roy have very similar ranges and styles of singing. Roy was Jay's favorite singer I believe.
Jason Garfield Bardy
I used to confuse him with the Big O when I was young. I'd work out in the garage as a teenager listening to Roy and Jay and The Americans.
Richard Betz
One of the finest voices in the business; right up there with Orbison, Valli, Del Shannon, etc.
Martin Wollner
Two best voices back in the day were Jay Black and Roy Orbison. this song is from my graduation year of high school. wish I could go back.
ncfeline1959
I bought their greatest hits lp and a yard sale in 1980 and have loved this song for so long! Thank you and God bless!
Thomas Elferis
you know it's crazy. I love Jay and all this groups hits but this tune really took to me. love the lyrics hid range the overall arrangement. ahhh. great music. Cara Mia.