Jay Graydon

Jay Graydon is a Los Angeles songwriter, recording artist, guitarist, producer, arranger, and recording engineer. He is the winner of two Grammy Awards (in the R&B category) with twelve Grammy nominations, among them the title "Producer of the Year" and "Best Engineered Recording". Jay Graydon has mastered many different styles and genres. In his career his recordings have been featured on record, film, television, and on stage.

Current work

Jay Graydon has just finished his latest album - co-written with highly acclaimed hit maker [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Goodrum] Randy Goodrum. The album is a melodic masterpiece with songs across the board - a mixture of Pop, R&B, AC, AOR and Jazz. It is superbly crafted, loaded with original, sophisticated, catchy songs, with subtle harmonies and interesting melodic hooks. The musical concept is totally new, yet slightly familiar to anyone into the Steely Dan sound, as the songs build on a similar formula with complex jazz-influenced chord structures that are pleasant to the ear with unexpected musical twists, as well as apt, fun and innovative lyrics. Further, the groove is mature with exceptional playing and singing, and as usual Jay Graydon plays his guitar with elegant and intelligent accuracy. The album is flirting with the smooth jazz genre and can be best described as Steely Dan meets Airplay and Pages with some jazzy flavors, a touch of humor, strong catchy melodies with intelligent lyrical hooks. For more info, check out the [http://www.jarzone.com] JarZONE.

History

Graydon made his singing debut on his second birthday on the "Joe Graydon Show," the first music/talk television show in Los Angeles, hosted by his father Joe Graydon. During and briefly after his college days Jay Graydon played in the Don Ellis Band, whose style can be described as experimental post-bop jazz.

L. A. session musician

From the late 60s to the late 70s he was a session musician in Los Angeles, working with such artists as Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, Diana Ross, The Jackson Five, Cheap Trick, Christopher Cross, Ray Charles, Cher, Joe Cocker, Marvin Gaye, Hall & Oates, Olivia Newton-John, and Albert King. He is perhaps best known for his guitar solo for Steely Dan's "Peg".

Producer

Jay Graydon's production credits include work with Air Supply, George Benson, Al Jarreau, DeBarge, El DeBarge, Sheena Easton, Art Garfunkel, The Manhattan Transfer, Johnny Mathis, Patti LaBelle, Lou Rawls, Dionne Warwick, and the album They Don't Make Them Like They Used To by Kenny Rogers.

He started his own record label, Sonic Thrust Records in 2001 to give himself creative and artistic freedom in his songwriting and producing profession. The label features straight-ahead jazz, adult contemporary pop, AAA, AOR, classic R&B, smooth jazz, and genuine retro surf from the 60s

As a musician and recording engineer, he has often been called in as a consultant/beta tester of musical equipment and recording gear.

ongwriter

Graydon has written more than 220 songs. Some of his hits include Grammy winning "Turn Your Love Around" with George Benson, many songs co-written with super producer and long time friend David Foster, including the Grammy-winning "After the Love Has Gone" (a hit for Earth, Wind & Fire) and "Friends In Love" with Dionne Warwick and Johnny Mathis; several hits with Al Jarreau (including "Mornin'", "Breakin' Away", "High Crime", "After All", "Roof Garden", "Love Is Waiting", "Closer To Your Love"), "Who's Holding Donna Now" with DeBarge, several hits with Manhattan Transfer including "Twilight Tone", "On The Boulevard", "Smile Again", and "Spies In The Night" (a potential James Bond theme). [http://www.ascap.com/ace/]

Writer and educator

Graydon has written numerous articles in music magazines and has conducted seminars at Musician's Institute in Hollywood together with guitarist Tommy Tedesco for more than 15 years. He has been working on a series of books on recording techniques together with Craig Anderton - a writer of recording technique best sellers, columns in music magazines and gear manuals. The books will include recording the guitar, bass, drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals, horns, strings, and mixing.

Film scores

Graydon has participated as a musician and/or songwriter in over 50 film scores including "The French Connection", "Grease", "Ghostbusters", "St. Elmo's Fire", "The Secret of My Success", "Navy Seals", "Lady Sings the Blues", "The Greatest, "Ghost Dad", and "Mahogany".

Television

As for TV productions Graydon has played on or written songs for -"The Andy Williams Show", "The Jackson 5 Show", "The Alan Thicke Show", " The David Steinberg Show", "The Ed Sullivan Show", "Friday Nite Live", "The Tonight Show", "The Merv Griffin Show", " The Soupy Sales Show", "The Smothers Brothers Show", "The Midnite Special", "The First and 2nd Rock and Roll Awards Show", "Miami Vice II", "Thank God It's Friday", "Starsky and Hutch".

With Richard Page, he also wrote the second theme song to "Gimme a Break!", which was used from its third through sixth seasons.

Key collaborations

Al Jarreau

Perhaps his most noted collaboration has been with Al Jarreau. Graydon was the main songwriter/producer behind success in the 80s (which Jarreau has acknowledged). Fact|date=February 2007 Graydon produced the Jarreau albums "Breakin' Away", "High Crime", "This Time" and "Jarreau" among others. Graydon also played guitar and synthesizer on these albums and was a songwriter, arranger and engineer.

David Foster

He worked with René Angélil and Céline Dion on the JT Super Producer concert in Japan in 1994 with David Foster [http://jaygraydon.net/performances.htm#Foster94] . Foster and Graydon have also worked together on numerous other projects.

Grammy nominations and awards

*1979 Best Rhythm & Blues Song - "After the Love has Gone" (Winner)
*1979 Song Of The Year - "After the Love Has Gone"
*1980 Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or Instrumental - "Twilight Zone / Twilight Tone" (The Manhattan Transfer)
*1981 Album Of The Year - "Breakin' Away"
*1981 Best Vocal Arrangement For Two Or More Voices - "Kafka"
*1982 Best Rhythm & Blues Song - "Turn Your Love Around" (Winner)
*1983 Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals - "Mornin"'
*1983 Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals - "Step by Step"
*1983 Best Engineered Recording - "Jarreau"
*1983 Producer Of The Year
*1984 Best Album Of Original Score Written For A Motion Picture - "Ghostbusters"
*1985 Best Album Of Original Score Written For A Motion Picture - "St. Elmo's Fire"

External links

* [http://www.jaygraydon.com Artist's website]
* [http://www.jaygraydon.net Artist's 2nd website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/jaygraydon Artist's Myspace website]
* [http://www.guitar.com Graydon's "Recording the Guitar" Series]
* [http://www.ascap.com/ace/ Graydon, Jay writing credits]
* [http://www.jarzone.com Jay Graydon's Collaboration with Randy Goodrum as the group JaR]