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Venue

F.M. Kirby Center

71 Public Square, 18701, Wilkes-barre, PA, US

www.kirbycenter.org

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Additional details

Doors open: 19:00

Concert in your area for Rock and Folk & Blues.

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Jay And The Americans biography

Jay And The Americans are a pop group hailing from Queens, New York, USA who debuted in 1961. After their formation they became one of the most celebrated singles acts of the 1960’s, and live on today as one of the most respected blue-eyed soul acts of their time.

Originally fronted by John “Jay” Traynor, the band cut their teeth performing around several student venues at the University of New York during the late 1950’s. After several of these shows the band felt that they were ready to hit the big time, and auditioned for pop songwriting legends Leiber and Stoller. The “Hound Dog” hit makers saw potential in the group and got them signed to United Artists Records, however their first effort, 1961’s “Tonight”, stalled at number 120 on the Billboard Charts. However, the fickle nature of pop stardom actually worked in the band’s favour, and their follow up single, 1962’s “She Cried”, was a top five hit on the very same chart a matter of months later.

Unfortunately, the band couldn’t replicate the success of “She Cried”, try as they might, and after three dud singles Traynor left the group. Normally that would be the end of Jay And The Americans’ story, but it’s at this point that two members of The Empires joined the band to fill the void left by Traynor, guitarist Marty Sanders and singer David Black. Black agreed to change his stage name to Jay Black for the sake of the band’s name, and the first single they released with their new line-up, 1963’s “Only In America”, stormed into the charts at number 25, saving their career in the nick of time. Over the next two years they scored a further two top five hit singles in the form of 1964’s number three hit “Come A Little Closer” and 1965’s “Cara Mia”, which hit number four.

With a back catalogue made up of some of the finest pop hits of the 1960’s the band spent the rest of their career as a must-see live act, even though their singles were failing to chart. The band eventually split in 1973, but in 2006 its founding members reunited fronted by a third “Jay” by the name of John “Jay” Reincke. They are as good as any band with over half a century’s worth of performing experience would be, and with a back catalogue like theirs, they come highly recommended.

Live reviews

Jay & The Americans rock.

The lineup on stage has changed a little over the years, currently consisting of Jay Reincke, Howie Kane, Sandy Deanne, and Marty Sanders, but you won't feel like anything or anyone is missing as the gang rocks its way through an evening of classic hits like "Cara Mia," "Only In America," "Come a Little Bit Closer," and (of course) "This Magic Moment."

Their live show is amazing. They take care to develop a nice rapport with the crowd, engaging in banter, introducing each song with an amusing story, and just in general making sure the audience enjoys themselves throughout.

And all of them can still sing. Their harmonies are as tight in person as they are on recordings from fifty years ago. Though getting a little old, the guys still have amazing stamina, staying on stage for an hour and half without an intermission. And every performer gets a chance to take center stage and prove he's still got what it takes to thrill an audience.

The only downside of a Jay & The Americans concert is that it has to come to an end. But they manage to make that fun, too, continuing to entertain the crown even after the concert is over, making themselves available in the lobby to meet and greet their fans, posing for pictures with them and signing autographs.

Anonymous

Doo –Wop may be a style that has long been forgotten by the contemporary charts but it’s a style that still holds a place in many people’s hearts. Music as pure as Doo-Wop never stops touching people and it’s for that reason that a seminal act like Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees ‘The Duprees’ never struggle to find an audience today.

The group still look as sharp as ever on stage, suited up with slick haircuts, ready to woo the crowd with their romantic vocal styling. They saunter through their 60s hits like ‘You Belong To Me’ with a charm and allure that has only strengthened over years, the messages in their music being so pure that time only makes them stronger. They sway around their mic stands with gorgeous melodies and harmonies floating over the dreamy backdrop the band creates for them. Although this group’s chart successes lie in the past, they are still enjoying their glory days on the stage and if you want to see Doo-Wop done right, check out The Duprees.

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CATFROMJAPAN

One of the Best Rock N Roll Vocal Groups of the 1960s & 1970s! Six out of the Seven members original members on stage! Wonderful show with tons of hits, "The Worst That Could Happen", "16 Candles", "Your Husband/My Wife", "Welcome Me Love", "Step By Step", "Trouble In Paradise", "Heaven Knows", "Youre the Best", "Runaround Sue", "The Wanderer", "Unchained Melody", "My Prayer" & so many more.

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