Jay Graydon
Musical artist (born 1949)
Musical artist
Jay Joseph Graydon [ 1] (born October 8, 1949, Burbank, California ) is an American songwriter, recording artist, guitarist, singer, keyboardist, 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". He has mastered many different music styles and genres, and his recordings have been featured on record, film, television and the stage.
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 for a brief time after his college days, Graydon played in the Don Ellis Band, whose style can be described as experimental post-bop jazz. He can be heard on the live double album Don Ellis at Fillmore and the studio albums The New Don Ellis Band Goes Underground , Connection and Soaring .
L. A. session musician
From the late 1960s to late 1970s Graydon was a session musician in Los Angeles, working with such artists as Gino Vannelli , Barbra Streisand , Dolly Parton , Diana Ross , The Jackson Five , Alice Cooper , Cheap Trick , Al Jarreau , Christopher Cross , Ray Charles , Cher , Joe Cocker , Marvin Gaye , Hall & Oates , Wayne Shorter , Olivia Newton-John , Albert King and Steely Dan . One of Graydon's most notable session performances is his guitar solo on Steely Dan's 1977 hit single "Peg ".
In 1977 he appeared as a character in a number of Doonesbury strips as Jay "Wah-Wah" Graydon.[ 2] Graydon played on the Jimmy Thudpucker album "Greatest Hits" along with Steve Cropper and Donald "Duck" Dunn. He was the subject of the track "Fretman Sam" and played its guitar solo. He also programmed the synthesizers for the album.
Producer
Jay Graydon's production credits include work with Airplay , Air Supply , George Benson , Al Jarreau , DeBarge , El DeBarge , Sheena Easton , Art Garfunkel , The Manhattan Transfer , Johnny Mathis , Patti LaBelle , Lou Rawls , Dionne Warwick , Alan Sorrenti 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 1960s.
As a musician and recording engineer, he has often been a consultant and beta tester for new musical equipment and recording gear.
Songwriter
Graydon has written over 200 songs. His catalog includes the Grammy winners "Turn Your Love Around " (co-written with Steve Lukather and Bill Champlin ) as performed by George Benson and "After the Love Has Gone " (co-written with David Foster and Bill Champlin ) as performed by Earth, Wind & Fire , as well as "Who's Holding Donna Now" (DeBarge ), "Friends in Love" (Dionne Warwick and Johnny Mathis ), many songs written with and for Al Jarreau (including "Mornin'", "Breakin' Away", "High Crime", "After All", and "Roof Garden"), and several hits with Manhattan Transfer including "Twilight Zone", "On The Boulevard", "Smile Again" and "Spies in the Night". Many of his songs were co-written with David Foster.
Writer and educator
Graydon has written numerous articles in music magazines, and has conducted seminars at Musician's Institute in Hollywood with guitarist Tommy Tedesco for more than 15 years. He has been working on a series of books on recording techniques with Craig Anderton , a widely published and bestselling authority on recording technology. The books will discuss the subtleties of recording various instruments, as well as 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 , Mahogany , and Thank God It's Friday .
Television
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 , The Tonight Show , The Merv Griffin Show , The Soupy Sales Show , The Smothers Brothers Show , The Midnight Special , The First Rock and Roll Awards Show , Miami Vice , and Starsky and Hutch .
With Richard Page , he also wrote the second theme song for Gimme a Break! , which was used from its third through sixth seasons.
Key collaborations
Al Jarreau
Perhaps Graydon's most noted collaboration has been with Al Jarreau . Graydon was Jarreau's main songwriter/producer in the early 1980s. Graydon produced Jarreau's albums This Time , Breakin' Away , Jarreau and High Crime, among others. Graydon also played guitar and synthesizer on these albums, as well as serving as songwriter, arranger and engineer.
David Foster
Foster and Graydon have worked together on several album projects, including the band Airplay , a pop-rock group they formed in the late 1970s, and the JT Super Producer concert in Japan in 1994 with René Angélil and Céline Dion .[ 3]
Randy Goodrum
Graydon and Randy Goodrum formed a group named JaR. In 2008, they released an album titled Scene 29 , described as "Steely Dan meets Airplay and Pages".[ 4]
Steely Dan
Graydon played the guitar solo on the song "Peg " on Steely Dan 's 1977 album Aja . Graydon has said that he was unaware of whether or not Becker and Fagen would keep the solo until he heard the finished song on the radio.[ 5] [ 6]
Discography
Solo albums
Year
Album Title
Notes
1993
Airplay for the Planet
2001
Bebop
2006
Past to Present - The 70s
2008
Airplay for the Planet - Live in Japan
Collaborations
Year
Artist
Album Title
Role(s)
1974
Boz Scaggs
Slow Dancer
Guitars
Joe Cocker
I Can Stand a Little Rain
1975
Gino Vannelli
Storm at Sunup
Aretha Franklin
You
Barbra Streisand
Lazy Afternoon
2nd Chapter of Acts
In the Volume of the Book
1976
Albert King
Albert
Candi Staton
Young Hearts Run Free
Paul Anka
The Painter
Jennifer Warnes
Jennifer Warnes
Marvin Gaye
I Want You
Donovan
Slow Down World
Synthesizer, programming
Cher
I'd Rather Believe in You
Guitar, mandolin
Stephen Bishop
Careless
Electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Gino Vannelli
The Gist of the Gemini
Electric guitar
1977
Olivia Newton-John
Making a Good Thing Better
Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar
Dolly Parton
Here You Come Again
Pedal steel guitar
Boz Scaggs
Down Two Then Left
Guitar, guitar solo
Steely Dan
Aja
Guitar solo on "Peg "
Rhythm Heritage
Last Night on Earth
Lead guitar
Marlena Shaw
Sweet Beginnings
Guitar
Paul Anka
The Music Man
Jackie DeShannon
You're the Only Dancer
Leo Sayer
Thunder in My Heart
Dionne Warwick
Love at First Sight
Shaun Cassidy
Born Late
Dalbello
Lisa Dal Bello
Syreeta Wright
Rich Love, Poor Love
1978
Various Artists
Grease Soundtrack
Carole Bayer Sager
...Too
Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer
Melissa Manchester
Don't Cry Out Loud
Barbra Streisand
Songbird
Dane Donohue
Dane Donohue
Paul Anka
Listen to Your Heart
Helen Reddy
We'll Sing in the Sunshine
Juice Newton
Well Kept Secret
Shaun Cassidy
Under Wraps
Candi Staton
House of Love
Valerie Carter
Wild Child
2nd Chapter of Acts
Mansion Builder
Ben E. King
Let Me Live in Your Life
Rhythm Heritage
Sky's the Limit
Guitar, arranger, writer
Alice Cooper
From The Inside
Guitar, synthesizer programming
Brian Cadd
Yesterdaydreams
Synthesiser
Rita Coolidge
Love Me Again
Guitar, acoustic guitar
Nigel Olsson
Nigel Olsson
Guitar, electric guitar
Pages
Pages
Engineer, guitar, horns, keyboard programming, producer, songwriter
1979
Barbra Streisand
Wet
Electric guitar
Christopher Cross
Christopher Cross
Guitar solo
Cher
Take Me Home
Guitar
Paul Anka
Headlines
Peter Allen
I Could Have Been a Sailor
Yvonne Elliman
Yvonne
Donna Summer
Bad Girls
Rhythm Heritage
Disco Derby
Nigel Olsson
Nigel
Electric guitar, acoustic guitar
The Manhattan Transfer
Extensions
Producer, arrangement, guitars, synthesizers, guitar solo, additional vocals, synthesizer programming, Mixing and Overdub Tracking
Marc Jordan
Blue Desert
Lead guitar, synthesizer, arranger, conductor, producer, engineer
Earth, Wind & Fire
I Am
Songwriter
1980
Peter Allen
Bi-Coastal
Guitar
2nd Chapter of Acts
The Roar of Love
Syreeta Wright
Syreeta
Musician
Bernie Taupin
He Who Rides the Tiger
Electric Guitar
Mariya Takeuchi
Miss M
Acoustic and electric guitars, rhythm arrangement, backing vocals, songwriter
Airplay
Airplay
Producer, guitar, lead and backing vocals, overdubbing, mixing, songwriter
Al Jarreau
This Time
Synthesizer programming, electric guitar, rhythm arrangements, producer, engineer
1981
Breakin' Away
Producer, mixing, songwriter, electric guitar, synthesizer programming, rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements
Dolly Parton
Dolly, Dolly, Dolly
Guitar
Carole Bayer Sager
Sometimes Late at Night
The Manhattan Transfer
Mecca for Moderns
Producer, songwriter, guitar, synthesizer, arrangements
Pages
Pages
Composer, engineer, guitar, mixing, producer, programming
1982
Herbie Hancock
Lite Me Up
Composer, engineer, guitar, producer, songwriter
Dionne Warwick
Friends in Love
Producer, rhythm arrangements, synthesizers, guitar, percussion, recording, mixing
1983
Donna Summer
She Works Hard for the Money
Songwriter, guitar
The Tubes
Outside Inside
Special Musical Contributor
Paul Anka
Walk a Fine Line
Composer
Sheena Easton
Best Kept Secret
Guitar, producer, engineer
Christopher Cross
Another Page
Guitar solo
David Foster
The Best Of Me
Composer, engineer, guitar, songwriter
Al Jarreau
Jarreau
Producer, songwriter, rhythm arrangements, guitar, synthesizers, guitar solo, engineering
1984
High Crime
Producer, songwriter, guitar, arrangements, synthesizers, computer concept
1985
DeBarge
Rhythm of the Night
Producer, songwriter, guitars, synthesizers
1986
El DeBarge
El DeBarge
Synthesizer, guitar, songwriter, arranger, producer, engineer
Kenny Rogers
They Don't Make Them Like They Used To
Producer, engineer, songwriter, synthesizers, lead guitar, electronic drums, arrangements, guitar solo, drums, guitar lines
Al Jarreau
L Is for Lover
Songwriter
1988
Heart's Horizon
Producer, songwriter, synthesizers
Art Garfunkel
Lefty
Producer, engineer
George Benson
Twice the Love
Producer, synthesizers, drums, arrangements, engineer, mixing
1989
El DeBarge
Gemini
Producer, songwriter
1993
Planet 3
Music From The Planet
Guitars, keyboards, programming, mixing, recording
2004
Gems Unearthed
Lead guitar, keyboards, programming, liner notes, mastering
2008
JaR
Scene 29
Lead and backing vocals, guitar, drums, synthesizer, composer, arranger, producer, engineer, mixing and mastering
Grammy Awards
References
^ "Jay Graydon" . SecondHandSongs.com . Retrieved July 8, 2021 .
^ Graydon, Jay (February 29, 2000). "MusicPlayer Forums: Jay Graydon here" . musicplayer.com. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2008 .
^ "Jay Graydon at jaygraydon.net. Performances" . Jaygraydon.net . Retrieved October 11, 2023 .
^ JaR . CDBaby. Retrieved August 17, 2009 .
^ "Steely Dan - Peg | Jay Graydon Shows Us The Solo | Tim Pierce | Learn To Play | Guitar Lesson" . September 15, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via YouTube .
^ "How Steely Dan Went Through Seven Guitarists and Dozens of Hours of Tape to Get the Perfect Guitar Solo on "Peg" " . Openculture.com . Retrieved October 11, 2023 .
^ "Jay Graydon - Artist" . Grammy Award . Retrieved March 18, 2018 .
^ "Grammy Awards & Nominations" . Awards & shows . Retrieved March 18, 2018 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1980" . Awards & shows . Retrieved March 18, 2018 .
^ "Here's complete list of the Grammy nominees" . Eugene Register-Guard . No. 121. Eugene, Oregon: Guard Publishing. February 21, 1981. p. 36.
^ "Grammy Awards 1981" . Awards & shows . Retrieved March 18, 2018 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1982" . Awards & shows . Retrieved March 18, 2018 .
^ "Toto strikes it big as soft-rock musicians win 7 Grammys" . The Milwaukee Journal. February 24, 1983. Retrieved May 1, 2011 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Grammy Awards 1983" . Awards & shows . Retrieved March 18, 2018 .
^ "Complete List of the Nominees for 26th Annual Grammy Music Awards" . Schenectady Gazette . The Daily Gazette Company. January 9, 1984.
^ "Grammy Awards 1984" . Awards & shows . Retrieved March 18, 2018 .
^ Graff, Gary (January 11, 1985). "The Grammy Awards: Prince, Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper take five nominations each" . Detroit Free Press . pp. 1C, 5C. Retrieved July 26, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "27th Annual GRAMMY Awards" . GRAMMY.com . January 16, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1985" . Awards & shows . Retrieved March 18, 2018 .
^ Hunt, Dennis (January 10, 1986). " 'We Are The World' Scores In Grammy Nominations" . Los Angeles Times . p. 3. Retrieved July 3, 2011 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1986" . Awards & shows . Retrieved March 18, 2018 .
External links
International National Artists