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.
This Magic Moment
Jay & The Americans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So different and so new
Was like any other
Until I kissed you
And then it happened
It took me by surprise
I knew that you felt it tooBy the look in your eyes
Sweeter than wine (sweeter than wine)
Softer than a summer night (softer than a summer night)
Everything I want to have (everything, everything)
Whenever I hold you tight
This magic moment (this magic moment)
While your lips are close to mine
Will last forever
Forever, till the end of time (this magic moment)
Whoa, oh, (this magic moment) oh
Sweeter than wine (sweeter than wine)
Softer than a summer night (softer than a summer night)
Everything I want to have (everything, everything)
Whenever I hold you tight
This magic moment (this magic moment)
While your lips are close to mine
Will last forever (this magic moment)
Forever, till the end of time (magic)
Whoa, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh
Magic, magic, magic
The song "This Magic Moment" by Jay & The Americans is about the powerful feeling of falling in love for the first time. The lyricist is describing the moment when he is kissing the person he loves and feels an indescribable connection with them, as if time has stopped and everything else around him is insignificant. He notes that this moment feels different and new compared to any other moment he has experienced, and he knows that the person he is with feels the same way by the look in their eyes.
He then goes on to describe the feeling of being with that person, noting that when he is holding them close it feels like everything he wants in life is right there with him. He repeats the phrase "This magic moment" throughout the song, emphasizing the intensity and uniqueness of the experience he is describing.
Overall, "This Magic Moment" is a romantic and nostalgic song that captures the feeling of falling in love for the first time and the magic that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
This magic moment
The current moment is magical
So different and so new
This moment is unique and special
Was like any other
Before this moment, nothing seemed special or different
Until I kissed you
This magic moment occured when I kissed you
And then it happened
After the kiss, something special happened
It took me by surprise
I wasn't expecting the magic to happen so suddenly
I knew that you felt it too
I knew that you also felt the magic
By the look in your eyes
I saw the magic in your eyes
Sweeter than wine (sweeter than wine)
This magic moment is sweeter than wine
Softer than a summer night (softer than a summer night)
This magic moment is softer than a summer night
Everything I want to have (everything, everything)
In this magic moment, I have everything I want
Whenever I hold you tight
The magic moment happens whenever I hold you tight
While your lips are close to mine
The magic moment happens when our lips are close
Will last forever
The magic moment will last forever
Forever, till the end of time (this magic moment)
The magic moment will last forever, until the end of time
Whoa, oh, (this magic moment) oh
Expressing the wonder and amazement of the magic moment
Magic, magic, magic
Repeatedly emphasizing the magic of the moment
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerome Pomus, Mortimer Shuman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stevemelzack7068
My wife and I chose this song at our wedding and yesterday she passed away in hospital and the doctors let me play this tune as she slipped away as I held her hand.. it was beautiful and emotional
@Bruh-zr3qw
.ayy she
@Bruh-zr3qw
May she 4ever RIP my condolences to u and ur family glad u have great memories to remember her GOD BLESS
@sylvialawrence4431
Love and prayers to you and your family.
@704JOE
THAT'S HOW I WANNA GO.......
@stevemelzack7068
and now every time i hear this song i cry as i grieve. its the most beutiful song and an amazing version
@warrenclaire
My wife is in ICU now. This is our song and I play it every day for her. ❤
@Frenite
How’s she doing?
@nitwitt50
😢 Sorry I hope everything will be alright.
@diannedrinnan
Blessings 🙏