Book Jay & The Americans Direct - National Entertainment Agency

Jay Traynor singing lead when Jay & The Americans first hit the Billboard charts in 1962 with "She Cried," which reached #5. Traynor left the group and was replaced by David Black (who agreed to adopt the name Jay Black), and Black sang lead for the rest of the group's major hits. They returned to the charts in 1963 with "Only In America," a song originally meant for The Drifters. Other notable hits for Jay and the Americans were "Come a Little Bit Closer" in 1964, which hit #3, and "Cara Mia" in 1965, which hit #4.

In 1968, they recorded an album of their favorite oldies called Sands of Time, which included "This Magic Moment," which was originally done by the Drifters. The single went to #9 in January 1969. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in May 1969. The LP Wax Museum, in January 1970, yielded the #19 hit single "Walkin' In The Rain," first recorded by The Ronettes.

One of the group's hits "Sunday and Me" was the first hit song written by Neil Diamond thus launching his career. The group also takes credit for signing two unknowns -- Walter Becker and Donald Fagen -- to become their backup band. Becker and Fagen later went on to become the Grammy-award winning Steely Dan.

Today the group consists of Jay Reinke (Jay number 3), Howie Kane, Sandy Deanne and Marty Sanders. Jay & The Americans continues to tour and play to sold-out audiences around the world.

Hit songs Include:

"Cara Mia"
"This Magic Moment"
"Some Enchanted Evening"
"Only In America"
"Crying"
"She Cried"
 "Come a Little Bit Closer"
"Let's Lock the Door (And Throw Away the Key)"

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