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BIRTH
As Jay explains it, "I guess I'm what some people call an "old soul" and I'll just leave it at that!" Jay's mother Ann describes his birth: "Suddenly I was perfectly calm. It seemed as though I was out of my body above myself. I believe it was when the soul entered my body. The birth process began...that resulted in a trip to Morton Hospital, Taunton, MA. My son Jay was born at 6:41 PM on April 29, 1955."
CHILDHOOD
Jay's mom loved jazz pianists. His uncle played jazz trumpet. They would spin Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis and other great jazz records all the time. As Jay explains "My guess is that by the time I was about 6 months old and getting "wired" for spoken language, I was doing the same thing with the scales, harmonies and complex time signatures I was hearing maybe without even knowing the difference!"
EDUCATION
At six, Jay began studying music, piano and voice with Joanne Montesanti in the church choir. He performed piano recitals and a lead vocal role backed up by the church choir on the radio.
At eight, another uncle showed Jay his tape recorder. "It was like magic to me. I still can't get over it." he says "He was kind enough to let me use it to record my playing and singing."
At eleven Jay began writing and recording songs. "I always felt kind of awkward when I was very young and songwriting seemed the most comfortable way to express my thoughts and feelings. Of course that didn't help. It just made me feel more awkward!" he says. "As a teenager, I finally started making friends with other kids like myself who were really into music."
In junior high school, band director Frank Montesanti encouraged Jay to learn saxophone. Throughout high school, he performed in the school band, the school chorus, took guitar lessons, and performed folk masses in church. He also learned to play drums, electronic keyboards, synthesizer and anything he could get my hands on to record his songs.
Jay majored in Business Administration at Boston University to please his dad because that's where he went to college. He soon switched to a Broadcast and Film major in the School of Public Communications where he studied filmmaking and acting where Howard Stern was one of his classmates. Then, Jay left BU for Berklee College of Music where he earned my Bachelor of Music Degree in 1979.
MUSICIAN
Jay has had a successful career as songwriter, keyboardist and singer in several top local music groups. The most notable was The Probers. Songs he has written were played by top local radio stations such as WBCN, WBRU and WHJY. He opened for many national acts such as Joan Jett, The Joe Perry Project and Clarence Clemons.
As a member of The Probers, Jay has toured as the opening act for The Tubes in large venues such as the Providence Civic Center.
Jay also worked on the award-winning charity benefit recording Rhode Island Bandwagon with the likes of John Cafferty (The Beaver Brown Band).
In the early 90's, Jay formed the band Skydaddy. After recording a full-length CD, the band decided to go their separate ways. The good news in that this CD will be available online in the very near future!
ACTOR
Jay had two acting roles in the film "Run Grammie Run". More film info:Sun Chronicle, Taunton Gazette, Sun Chronicle 2
A film crew prepares to shoot a scene from "Run Grammie Run!".
Belting out a celebratory tune during filming of "Run Grammie, Run!". Jeff Phillips (in wheelchair), is embraced by Marianna Scarpellini.
RECORDING STUDIO OWNER
In the mid '90s, Jay opened his own recording studio, Saucer Sound. Over the years, he's put together a strong team of creative people at the studio. He continues to work as a recording engineer, producer and arranger.
JINGLE WRITER
Jay has written many jingles for radio and television advertising. His jingle "Dan, the Citywide Man" became the Number One most recognizable jingle in the New York City area for 2007!
PRODUCER
Jay has produced a substantial number of recordings for other artists including over 50 full-length CDs! He has worked with many great musicians, including the legendary rockabilly artist Sleepy LaBeef and rock singer-songwriter Andy Pratt whose song "Avenging Annie" was a top ten hit in 1973. In 2006, Jay produced the critially acclaimed debut CD of the very successful Boston band The Eclectic Collective.
CDs recorded by Jay at Saucer Sound by Big Noise recording artists A. Michelle, Chantal and Derek Carvalho made the Grammy Awards ballots making Jay eligable for Grammy Awards in two catagories for each artist!
SOLO ARTIST
Jay is now recording his first CD as a solo artist which will be released in 2012.
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