By Anthony J. Machcinski
Despite 49 years since their first hit song, Jay and the Americans still have the ability to rock any large crowd.
Playing a mixture of their hits and covers of songs from artists that inspired them, such as Roy Orbison, Jay and the Americans played last week at Town Hall Park in Lyndhurst as part of the 22nd annual “Music Under the Stars.”
Jay and the Americans started after founding members Sandy Deanne and Kenny Vance decided to end their previous group called the Harborites. The first Jay, Jay Traynor, was found by Harborites manager Jim Gribble.
One of the most significant moments with Jay and the Americans for Deanne, a Queens native, came when the band was able to play one of the biggest stages in America, Madison Square Garden.
“We’re East Coast guys,” Deanne said proudly. “When we played Madison Square Garden, it was a special thrill because all the huge events took place there.”
While much has changed since the group was one of the top bands of the 1960s, Deanne and the band like to return to the area.
To read the full story, see this week’s issue of The Observer.
