Jay Black’s life as an American

By Rita Charleston

For the Times

Jay Black, once lead singer of the band Jay Black and the Americans, had his share of hits during his career, including Cara Mia, Come a Little Bit Closer and This Magic Moment.

And even though he hasn't had a hit song since 1970, Black insists that he's as busy as ever.

"Here I am at the age of seventy-two and still able to draw audiences of all ages. After all these years, I'll admit it's hard for me to believe," said Black, who will be one of the featured artists taking part in Jerry Blavat's Mother's Day Musical Spectacular at the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall on May 8.

"People often come up to me after a show and remind me that I played at their proms in the late sixties, and that they still treasure all those memories. And now the kids of some of those same people are coming to see my shows and becoming fans as well," said Black.

This is probably a good point to note one other aspect of Black's career. He appeared in a 1977 film titled Contract on Cherry Street, about a New York detective who takes on the mob, that starred Frank Sinatra in his only made-for-TV movie.

"At the time," Black said, "I described myself as an entertainer who happened to sing.

"I was about forty at the time, and Frank only knew me as an actor until he found out that I had done all the hit songs he knew so well. That pleased me quite a bit, and here I am today, still hitting those same notes he grew so fond of," Black said.

Born David Blatt in New York, Black stepped in as the successor to John (Jay) Traynor, the original leader of Jay and the Americans who departed as the group started to experience some success in the early '60s. A decade later, when the ensemble broke up to head in other directions, Black continued his career as Jay Black and the Americans but was barred from using the name about six years ago, when the rights to Jay and the Americans were sold to an original member of the quartet.

That original group was formed in 1961 with Traynor as the lead singer. The quartet was signed to United Artists records by producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

Aside from the string of hits done by Jay Black and the Americans, Black's own Magic Moment came after he was able to overcome his shyness and stage fright.

"I didn't always want to go onstage because I was afraid, embarrassed," he recalled. "I was always entertaining my friends, but going out there in front of so many strangers terrified me in the beginning."

At the peak of its success in the mid-to-late-1960s, the group made appearances on some of the hottest television programs of the day, from Johnny Carson to Mike Douglas to Merv Griffin. The group also was signed on to take part in the Beatles' first American tour in 1964, along with the Righteous Brothers.

"It was a wonderful time," Black said, "and I think the music we had can still outdo a lot of the music around us today. I think we made better music than all the junk that's come along since.

"I think it's important to just keep going," he concluded. "And if something's meant to be, it will be. So learn to live out all your dreams."

For ticket information, call 215-893-1999.