I know next to nothing about Jay Black the man. But I've been a fan since 1964. I got to him for all of a twenty seconds in a club in 1971. I was 18 and I entered the club with a girl I'd met that very night. She told me she was 18 too. We paid and moments later a big huge hulk tapped us on the shoulder and proofed us. It turned out the girl was only 17 and was evicted. As much as I wanted to hear Jay and the American I left with her. We weren't refunded even though we'd only been in the club for moments. It was obvious they let us pay first to rip us off. It was my money but she was a lot madder than I was and she made a practice of calling and complaining about underage girls in the club. Since her father was a police officer, her calls got some action and the club was hit with pretty heavy fines. But that night we just listened to my Jay and the Americans greatest hits album.
Great stories about Jay Black! A great voice and an icon who certainly did it his way! I too have been to The Bergen Hunt and fish club. But it was while executing a search warrant! I know all to well the feeling of one who is, was summoned there!
I was introduced to Jay by Richie Kessel, then a New York state official+lifetime Jay-groupie. Richie told him, accurately, I was an environmentalist. "Dree-hugga," Jay mused.
Yes. Richie Kessel used to be called a "gadfly" by Newsday until he got a job...running the power company? Jay used to tease Kessel in other ways too. Thanks for the comment, "Dree-hugga!"
I was born in December of 65, the year of "Cara Mia". I was told my dad played that song incessantly during the summer of 66. Fast forward to 2005, my father played Cara Mia at a party my folks held for my 40th birthday. I immediately stopped dead in my tracks and began to cry. I immediately asked dad to dance, a real oddity as neither of us dance, ever.
It was after this dance that mom shared a bit more. During that 1966 summer, dad danced around their apartment, to Cara Mia, cradling me close to him. As far as I was concerned, I had never heard of Jay and the Americans, let alone Cara Mia. However, for one summer, in 1966, a 6 month old baby girl developed a forever connection with your cousin Jay. I never danced with dad again, he passed some 2 yrs later but we will have always that Cara Mia connection and a love for Jay's music. Thanks for sharing this Wayne.
Thank you, Alicia. This column is coming to you from Queens. What’s the saying, you can’t choose your family, but you can choose your friends, so welcome!
Good job, Wayne. I'm not much of a pop music aficionado and thus was surprised to read in the Times obit that the signature song of my old friend Jane Olivor (nee Janie Cohen), "Some Enchanted Evening," was also a hit for Jay. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWpWem5Z4tw). I'll have to ask her what she thought off it when we next speak.
Thanks Ed. Many great versions of Some Enchanted Evening, but I believe Jay and the Americans version is one of the most moving and beautiful. I was still a teenager, but as I paid attention to the words of such a perfectly written song, my tastes broadened in a profound way.
What a great yarn, Wayne! Funny part is, I remember Scot mentioning that when you two got to his hotel room, Jay ordered an entire chocolate cake and then ate the whole thing himself. It's the main thing that's stuck in my memory. Maybe Scot was cleaning up the story for me!
I had the pleasure of meeting Jay Black when he visited his granddaughter's nursery school class for her birthday. All the children sang "Come a Little Bit Closer" to HIM. He was a sweet grandfather and enjoyed the innocence in the classroom that day. Your article is chock-full of interesting stories about your cousin. Well done, Mr. Robins!
Wayne, I really enjoyed this remembrance of Jay Black. Just a couple of corrections:
(1) "...and lost the best." (He lost the bet.)
(2) "No one as around." (No on was around.)
(3) "He asked Jay if he would honor him by singng 'Cara Mia' at Junior Gotti's forthcoming wedding." I'm almost certain that Jay sang at the 1984 wedding of Victoria Gotti (to Carmine Agnello) but can't cite a source. Maybe he sang at both nuptials?
I'm aware of typos, Andy. It's the new new journalism, without proofreaders, copy editors or a tightrope. I'll fix them ASAP. And I'm telling you the Junior story as my cousin told it to me. Why would you research this, anyway?
And you misspelled your correction. (2) "No one as around." (No on was around.) But I get your gist. I seek progress, not perfection, but thanks. And how did you miss my typos on "distinction" and "singing" which are now corrected? It happens, you know.
I know next to nothing about Jay Black the man. But I've been a fan since 1964. I got to him for all of a twenty seconds in a club in 1971. I was 18 and I entered the club with a girl I'd met that very night. She told me she was 18 too. We paid and moments later a big huge hulk tapped us on the shoulder and proofed us. It turned out the girl was only 17 and was evicted. As much as I wanted to hear Jay and the American I left with her. We weren't refunded even though we'd only been in the club for moments. It was obvious they let us pay first to rip us off. It was my money but she was a lot madder than I was and she made a practice of calling and complaining about underage girls in the club. Since her father was a police officer, her calls got some action and the club was hit with pretty heavy fines. But that night we just listened to my Jay and the Americans greatest hits album.
Great stories about Jay Black! A great voice and an icon who certainly did it his way! I too have been to The Bergen Hunt and fish club. But it was while executing a search warrant! I know all to well the feeling of one who is, was summoned there!
Harold Schiffer
LOL! That is hilarious. Thank you, Harold!
I was introduced to Jay by Richie Kessel, then a New York state official+lifetime Jay-groupie. Richie told him, accurately, I was an environmentalist. "Dree-hugga," Jay mused.
Yes. Richie Kessel used to be called a "gadfly" by Newsday until he got a job...running the power company? Jay used to tease Kessel in other ways too. Thanks for the comment, "Dree-hugga!"
I was born in December of 65, the year of "Cara Mia". I was told my dad played that song incessantly during the summer of 66. Fast forward to 2005, my father played Cara Mia at a party my folks held for my 40th birthday. I immediately stopped dead in my tracks and began to cry. I immediately asked dad to dance, a real oddity as neither of us dance, ever.
It was after this dance that mom shared a bit more. During that 1966 summer, dad danced around their apartment, to Cara Mia, cradling me close to him. As far as I was concerned, I had never heard of Jay and the Americans, let alone Cara Mia. However, for one summer, in 1966, a 6 month old baby girl developed a forever connection with your cousin Jay. I never danced with dad again, he passed some 2 yrs later but we will have always that Cara Mia connection and a love for Jay's music. Thanks for sharing this Wayne.
I should be so lucky to have Jay as a family member, said in a New York accent, I am from Queens, just like Jay was.
Thank you, Alicia. This column is coming to you from Queens. What’s the saying, you can’t choose your family, but you can choose your friends, so welcome!
Good job, Wayne. I'm not much of a pop music aficionado and thus was surprised to read in the Times obit that the signature song of my old friend Jane Olivor (nee Janie Cohen), "Some Enchanted Evening," was also a hit for Jay. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWpWem5Z4tw). I'll have to ask her what she thought off it when we next speak.
Thanks Ed. Many great versions of Some Enchanted Evening, but I believe Jay and the Americans version is one of the most moving and beautiful. I was still a teenager, but as I paid attention to the words of such a perfectly written song, my tastes broadened in a profound way.
What a beautiful tribute to ties to family, thank you Wayne, Dolores Carillo
Thank you, Dolores. Speaking of family, I hope they are well.
Very good story. I'm a sucker for anything about New Yawk.
I just loved the voice and the sound and the wild singing-along on a school bus. Thanks for improving my Six Degree of Separation score again.
What a great yarn, Wayne! Funny part is, I remember Scot mentioning that when you two got to his hotel room, Jay ordered an entire chocolate cake and then ate the whole thing himself. It's the main thing that's stuck in my memory. Maybe Scot was cleaning up the story for me!
That's hilarious, Danny. Funny what each person observes and remembers.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jay Black when he visited his granddaughter's nursery school class for her birthday. All the children sang "Come a Little Bit Closer" to HIM. He was a sweet grandfather and enjoyed the innocence in the classroom that day. Your article is chock-full of interesting stories about your cousin. Well done, Mr. Robins!
Wayne, I really enjoyed this remembrance of Jay Black. Just a couple of corrections:
(1) "...and lost the best." (He lost the bet.)
(2) "No one as around." (No on was around.)
(3) "He asked Jay if he would honor him by singng 'Cara Mia' at Junior Gotti's forthcoming wedding." I'm almost certain that Jay sang at the 1984 wedding of Victoria Gotti (to Carmine Agnello) but can't cite a source. Maybe he sang at both nuptials?
I'm aware of typos, Andy. It's the new new journalism, without proofreaders, copy editors or a tightrope. I'll fix them ASAP. And I'm telling you the Junior story as my cousin told it to me. Why would you research this, anyway?
I just had a distinct memory -- again, I can't cite the source -- of Jay having performed at Victoria's wedding.
OK. I yield.
And you misspelled your correction. (2) "No one as around." (No on was around.) But I get your gist. I seek progress, not perfection, but thanks. And how did you miss my typos on "distinction" and "singing" which are now corrected? It happens, you know.
Kenny Vance told me a story about the time the whole band got fired by their mob handlers. They took everything they had including their costumes.