Jay Black RIP

Sorry to hear of the death aged 82 of Jay Black, lead singer of Jay and the Americans. He wasn't the original Jay, as it was Jay Traynor (who died in 2014) who sang lead on the group's first hit 'She Cried'. Jay Black (real name David Blatt) took over as Jay and it was his soaring voice that took the lead on a string of US hits during the sixties, none of which was a hit in the UK. These included dramatic remakes of 'Cara Mia', 'Some Enchanted Evening', 'Crying' and 'This Magic Moment' along with other impressive songs such as 'Come Dance With Me', 'Come A Little Bit Closer', 'Let's Lock the Door', 'Sunday and Me', the Northern soul favourite 'Livin' Above Your Head' and '(He's) Raining In My Sunshine. Born in New York, Jay started his career in doowop group the Empires. After the group broke up he toured as Jay Black and the Americans and after losing the right to that name appeared as Jay Black 'The Voice'.