About Jay.
As a songwriter/ arranger/ performer, Jay's musical versatility and down to earth folk style speak to the listener of the simple joys found in everyday life. A talent for vivid storytelling combined with crisp and delicate acoustic melodies makes it easy to understand why Jay's songs so effortlessly touch the hearts of his fans.
Festivals
Appearing at the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Arts Festival since 1987, Jay's presence has become a welcome sight to folk music fans throughout Western Pennsylvania. Jay is also a frequent performer at the Spring Fever Folk Festival in Cambridge Springs, PA as well as the Art and Music Festival at Slippery Rock University and the annual Fair In The Park, hosted by The Craftsmen's Guild of Pittsburgh. He has performed for the Calliope Folk Music Society, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and has also appeared on several occasions at the First Night celebrations. In 2003, Jay was the winner of the New Folk Competition at the New Jersey Folk Festival at Rutgers University. In 2015 and 2017 Jay was a featured performer at the Clearwater Music Festival. The Huntington music festival and the main stage at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in New York were highlights of 2015. In 2016, Jay was a featured guest on On Your Radar with WFUV host, John Platt, performing at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City.
Awards
The admiration and respect Jay has earned throughout the folk music community is evident in his twice being named Best Acoustic Musician as voted on by fans and conducted by the Pittsburgh City Paper. In 2005 Jay won Best Song in the Canadian Narrative Music contest for "Tracy Loves Ray" and was awarded Honorable Mention for his song "Through The Window". His CD "Gentle Persuader" was named one of the top ten CDs of the year by WYEP in Pittsburgh.
Radio and Television
Jay has performed in many venues throughout the United States both as a solo artist and as a member of various bands. He has also written commercial music for radio advertising and a theme song for television. Jay appears regularly on "The Saturday Light Brigade", a syndicated family oriented radio program originating from Carnegie Mellon University on WRCT FM. Since 1999 Jay has frequently performed on "His Place", an internationally broadcast program on Christian Television [CTV]. Other television credits include "Pittsburgh Today" and "On Q".
"There's a house on the hill, it is standing there still
And it welcomes me home like a friend...
I have seen through the pane all I've lost, all I've gained
Looking out, looking in through the window..."
Through The Window
