Jay Black, Jay and the Americans Singer, Dead at 82

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Rolling Stone

Jay Black, Jay and the Americans Singer, Dead at 82

Daniel Kreps
Sat, October 23, 2021, 7:49 PM · 2 min read

Jay Black, frontman for the Sixties pop-rock hitmakers Jay and the Americans, has died at the age of 82.

Black’s family confirmed that the singer died Friday night from complications from pneumonia. In recent years, Black also suffered from dementia.

The Brooklyn-born Black (born David Blatt) joined Jay and the Americans in 1962, taking over for the band’s first singer, Jay Traynor. Following the 1963 single “Only in America,” Black’s soaring vocals featured on the band’s Top 10 hits “Come A Little Bit Closer,” “Cara Mia” and “This Magic Moment.”

Jay and the Americans also notably served as the opening act for the Beatles’ first U.S. concert in 1964 in Washington, D.C.

The band first split up in 1973, at which point Black embarked on a lengthy solo career; prior to that, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen were both members of Black’s touring unit before forming Steely Dan.

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Jay & the Americans - Only in America - Feb. 2, 1965 Hulabaloo.flv
215,894 views Apr 25, 2012

Thomas Anderson
173 subscribers

A segment from NBC's "Hulabaloo" on February 2, 1965. The Host for that show was Paul Anka. (Singing the introduction at the start!) The show had a different host each week.

This particular episode also had: Petula Clark, Marvin Gaye, Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, Bill Dana, The Everly Brothers and, Rocky Roberts & the Airedales.

[Goonch]

1. ;-{)🖖‍

[niyad]

2. Was just thinking about him the other day. I remember his performances on the

America's Soundtrack shows, and his self-deprecating comments. He was ill then. Thank you fo4 the music, Jay.

[Ritabert]

3. What a voice!

He could hit the high notes.

[niyad]

4. Still could in his last performances.

[Ritabert]

5. I saw some of his later performances on PBS

He still had it.

[blm]

6. A real singer.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. "Closer" Was A Catchy Tune

Other than the Beatles, I wasn't paying attention to much pop music back then. (10-11 year old jazz piano student)
But, I remember actually listening to it on an oldies station when in college and thought "That's actually a pretty cool tune. No wonder it was a hit."
I've dug it ever since.