Voting Station

Jay and the Americans

Please vote to return to collections.

Vocalists

The Resume

    (1960-1973)
    Born in Queens, New York
    Original Line-up:
    John 'Jay' Traynor, lead vocals
    Howard Kane (birth name was Howard Kirschenbaum)
    Kenny Vance (birth name was Kenneth Rosenberg)
    Sandy Deanne (birth name was Sandy Yaguda)
    Traynor left in 1962, replaced by David 'Jay' Black
    Recorded the singles 'She Cried' (1962), 'Only in America' (1963), 'Come a Little Bit Closer' (1964), 'Cara Mia' (1965), 'Let's Lock the Door (And Throw Away the Key)' (1965), 'Some Enchanted Evening' (1965), 'Sunday and Me' (1965) and 'This Magic Moment' (1969)
    Inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame (2002)

Why they might be annoying:

    They auditioned for Leiber and Stoller, who wanted to call the group 'Binky Jones and the Americans,' but Traynor objected to being known as 'Binky' for the rest of his career.
    Black referred to Walter Becker and Donald Fagen as 'Starkweather and Manson' when the future Steely Dan leaders were part of Jay and the Americans' backing band.
    Black went bankrupt due to gambling and back taxes and had to sell rights to the 'Jay and the Americans' name at auction (2006).
    The name was bought by former American Sandy Deanne, who hired a third Jay -- John 'Jay' Reincke -- as lead singer and hit the oldies circuit.

Why they might not be annoying:

    They were the opening act at the Beatles' first US concert (February 11, 1964).
    Their recording of 'Sunday and Me' was the first hit song written by Neil Diamond.
    In concert, Black would hold the climactic note of 'Cara Mia' for over a minute.
    Vance became the musical director for Saturday Night Live (1980).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 22 Votes: 9.09% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 11 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 26.67% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 68.75% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 20 Votes: 40.0% Annoying