Harley Jay
Los Angeles, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2010 | SELF
Music
Press
Harley Jay needs to be heard, this is great stuff! - Brian Mercer Radio (Palm Springs)
This guy could give Rascal Flatts a big run for their money. - Del Williams, Gotizm Records
It isn’t uncommon for someone to cross genres and take a stab at a country album, some with a huge amount of success and others without much if any at all. However, I can’t recall a time that a Broadway sensation has done it until now. Although Harley Jay has a musical background in that he attended the Berklee School of Music, his prominent stage background comes from his popular role as Mark Cohen in RENT, which he perfected on the national tour, and then continued on the famed Broadway stage. Though he has a Broadway album to his credit, Without Wax is his first stab at original music with a bit of a country backbone. He defines it best when he calls his music “city country,” as this isn’t your grandma and grandpa’s country, but there are some defining elements of the modern country style spread throughout the album. His combination of loud rockin’ electric guitar on tracks like “Do You Want Me Or Not,” and “Stuff Packed In” combined with the driving pop sounds you’ll find on cuts like “Without You Tonight,” beg to be compared to the rockers of the country scene out there today like Keith Urban. However, as these songs display a country vibe, Harley Jay is a rocker as well with a foot on the classic rock sounds of bands like Blue Oyster Cult as he instantly shows you as the album opener “And She Said” kicks in. Though this album is more of a labor of love in that there isn’t one overall theme or feel to it, that doesn’t mean it should be dismissed. This is an album that is perfectly suited for those fans of the classic rock and modern country sounds as this encompasses both genres and gives you a healthy combination without ever blurring the genre lines one way or the other. - Today's Country Magazine
"I love it!" - 95.5 FM
Discography
2007 released a Broadway Cover tune album called "Between 41st and 53rd"
2008 released original material album entitled "Without Wax"
September 2011 sophomore solo record released entitled "Lifted Me From Lonely"
December 2015 - "I AM HARLEY JAY" 4 song EP.
Photos
Bio
MY NAME IS HARLEY. MY DADS NAME IS DAVID. THAT MAKES ME HARLEY, DAVID’S SON… CLEVER AND TOTALLY TRUE.
I’ve been on Broadway, done two broadway national tours, and had kidney stones… twice. I’m addicted to golf and know way too many random stats about professional basketball! Go Suns! I also write and sing country music. It makes perfect sense!
“Dude! You’re the shit!” said actor/musician Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother, I Love You, Man!, Saving Sarah Marshall) after attending a show.
If Bryan Adams, Train and Keith Urban were all sent to Mars and Earth needed someone to fill the void that would surely be left without those artists… they’d recommend everyone listen to Harley Jay.
After touring for a year and a half as Mark Cohen in the hit rock musical RENT, Harley jumped on the offer to play the same role on Broadway for the next year. Once his stint in RENT had ended Harley released his first record “Without Wax” and moved to Los Angeles. The record caught the ear of Gotizm Records owner Del Williams and within weeks of being on the west coast Harley had secured an opening spot on tour with Grammy winner James Otto.
“Some of the catchiest songs and one of the best voices I’ve heard in a long time” said Williams.
After his time with Otto, Harley jumped back into the studio and later released his sophomore record “Lifted Me From Lonely.” The title track from the record garnished Harley radio play on 95.5 KLOS Heidi and Frank in the morning…
“I love it!” says Heidi Hamilton (disc jockey at 95.5 KLOS)
"[Harley's] voice is absolutely fantastic." - 16 time Grammy winner, songwriter, producer David Foster.
Since the release, Harley has shared the stage with The Gin Blossoms, Marc Broussard, Wilson Phillips, American Idol winner Kris Allen, Rick Springfield (including an opening spot at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville) Eddie Money and former Paul McCartney/ Wings guitar player and Grammy winner Laurence Juber.
“But wait, Harley! What about your theater background, have you just left that in the dust forever?” Absolutely not.
Recently, Harley not only performed in but also produced the world premiere cast album of the critically acclaimed LA musical, ModRock. Covering famous hits from the Kinks, Hermans Hermits, Dusty Springfield, the Yardbirds and other popular UK bands.
…I’m a huge donut fan. I like motorcycles, bulldogs, beagles and anything Apple related. I’ve got the best family in the world and I have naturally curly hair but I straighten it almost everyday because I like it better that way. If none of that is impressive enough, my grandpa was friends with Steve McQueen…yeah, THAT Steve McQueen.
www.harleyjay.com
Band Members
Links
