- Chris Jay
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Chris Jay Birth name Christopher Thomas Jurewicz Born Cape May, New Jersey, US Genres rock Occupations Musician, songwriter, actor, producer, writer Instruments Vocals, guitar Associated acts Army of Freshmen Website www.armyoffreshmen.com Chris Jay is a musician, songwriter, producer, writer and actor best known as the frontman and founder of the rock band, Army of Freshmen.
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Background/Army of Freshmen
Chris Jay was born Chris Jurewicz in Cape May, New Jersey. He attended high school at Lower Cape May Regional where his parents were both music teachers. They also own a music store, Mr. J’s Music Shop in North Cape May, New Jersey which is attached to Jay’s childhood home. He formed his first band, Yclept, while still in high school and performed throughout South Jersey including opening for one of his heroes, Arlo Guthrie, a show which the 16-year-old Jay booked and promoted himself. Upon graduation, he moved, by himself, to Ventura, California where he formed the band, Army of Freshmen in 1997. Army of Freshmen are still active and have played over 1,000 shows in 43 states and 11 countries and released 4 full length albums. Jay himself has written and or co written over 500 songs, with several of those appearing in films and on television.
Journalism
Jay has written for the weekly newspaper, The VC Reporter since 1999. He’s interviewed hundreds of artists and his recent work can be found archived at the paper’s website.[1] He was sued by Mike Love of the Beach Boys for 10 million dollars over an article Jay wrote about Love’s continued use of the band’s name despite being the only original member. Many Army of Freshmen fans and Beach Boy fans have no idea the lawsuit existed as it was settled out of court prior to any trial or press coverage.
Production
Jay, along with fellow Army of Freshmen member, Aaron Goldberg, has produced, recorded and co written with several artists in multiple genres. Credits include artists like Delaney Gibson, Exit 4, New Liberty, Lost, Sarah Ashleigh, Sean Deleon, Orlando Napier, Brett Yore, Kevin Conaway and TV news anchor, Michelle Dawn Mooney.
Acting
In 2009 Jay was a featured extra in the horror film, The Telling. Jay along with other AOF members, Aaron Goldberg and Kai Dodson can be seen multiple times in the movie’s opening sequence which was filmed at the Playboy Mansion and stars, Hugh Hefner’s then-girlfriends Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt of The Girls Next Door.[2]
Jay’s work on The Telling led to his being cast in the upcoming comedy How Beer Pong Saved My Life playing the role of “Frat Boy.” The film is set for a 2011 release will be Jay’s first speaking role in a film. In addition to the acting role, he co wrote the movie’s theme song.[3]
Jay appears as an extra in the Las Vegas crowd sequence of the final fight in sixth Rocky film, Rocky Balboa. Jay, a fan of the Rocky film series, has a large memorabilia collection.
Other
Jay has written the treatment for all 3 of Army of Freshmen’s videos as well Bowling For Soup’s High School Never Ends which Jay makes a cameo in along with the rest of Army of Freshmen.
Jay, along with fellow Army of Freshmen member, Aaron Goldberg, has created and written the pilot and original songs for an animated adult comedy cartoon show, The Spank Finatra Show. Songs and the show’s pilot animatic can be found online.
Jay’s lyrics to the Army of Freshmen song, “Road Less Traveled” are quoted in the book, High School Confidential by Jeremy Iversen.
Jay contributed guest vocals to the Chicago band Plunket’s song “Baby Steps” which was the first single and video off their debut record, All We’ve Got Is This.
Jay contributed guest vocals to the English band, Ten Four And Out’s song, “One of the Crowd.”
Jay co wrote songs on the upcoming debut album by throwback soul group, Jeff Hershey and the Heartbeats.
Jay (as Chris Jurewicz) is thanked in the liner notes to 2 Live Crew’s infamous 1989 release As Nasty As They Wanna Be. Jay was a rap music fan in elementary school and had written a fan letter to the group prior to their success.
References
Categories:- Living people
- People from Cape May, New Jersey
- American guitarists
- American rock singers
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