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Jay Graydon | |
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![]() Graydon in 2019. | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Jay Joseph Graydon |
Born | Burbank, California | October 8, 1949
Occupation(s) | Guitarist, songwriter, producer |
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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]
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]
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]
Year | Album Title | Notes |
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1993 | Airplay for the Planet | |
2001 | Bebop | |
2006 | Past to Present - The 70s | |
2008 | Airplay for the Planet - Live in Japan |
Year | Artist | Album Title | Role(s) |
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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 |
Steely Dan is an American rock band formed in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, in 1971 by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. Originally having a full band lineup, Becker and Fagen chose to stop performing live by the end of 1974 and continued Steely Dan as a studio-only duo, utilizing a revolving cast of session musicians. Rolling Stone has called them "the perfect musical antiheroes for the seventies".
Steven Lee "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer, best known as the sole continuous founding member of the rock band Toto. His reputation as a skilled guitarist led to a steady flow of session work beginning in the 1970s that has since established him as a prolific session musician, recording guitar tracks for more than 1,500 albums spanning a broad array of artists and genres. He has also contributed to albums and hit singles as a songwriter, arranger and producer. Notably, Lukather played guitar on Boz Scaggs' albums Down Two Then Left (1977) and Middle Man (1980), and was a prominent contributor to Michael Jackson's Thriller (1982). Lukather has released nine solo albums, the latest of which, Bridges, was released in June 2023.
Donald Jay Fagen is an American musician who was the co-founder, lead singer, co-songwriter, and keyboardist of the band Steely Dan, formed in the early 1970s with musical partner Walter Becker. In addition to his work with Steely Dan, Fagen has released four solo albums, beginning with The Nightfly in 1982, which was nominated for seven Grammys.
Aja is the sixth studio album by the American rock band Steely Dan, released on September 23, 1977, by ABC Records. For the album, band leaders Donald Fagen and Walter Becker pushed Steely Dan further into experimenting with different combinations of session players, enlisting the services of nearly 40 musicians, while pursuing longer, more sophisticated compositions and arrangements.
Alwin Lopez Jarreau was an American singer and songwriter. His 1981 album Breakin' Away spent two years on the Billboard 200 and is considered one of the finest examples of the Los Angeles pop and R&B sound. The album won Jarreau the 1982 Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In all, he won ten Grammy Awards and was nominated 19 other times during his career.
Michael H. McDonald is an American singer, songwriter and keyboardist. Known for his distinctive, soulful voice, he was a backing vocalist for Steely Dan from 1975 to 1980 and the lead vocalist of the Doobie Brothers across various stints. McDonald wrote and sang several hit singles with the Doobie Brothers, including "What a Fool Believes", "Minute by Minute", and "Takin' It to the Streets." McDonald has also performed as a prominent backing vocalist on numerous recordings by artists including Steely Dan, Toto, Christopher Cross, and Kenny Loggins.
Michael S. Omartian is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, keyboardist, and music producer. He produced number-one records in three consecutive decades. He has earned 11 Grammy Awards nominations and won three. He spent five years on the A&R staff of ABC/Dunhill Records as a producer, artist, and arranger; then was hired by Warner Bros. Records as an in-house producer and A&R staff member. Omartian moved from Los Angeles to Nashville in 1993, where he served on the Board of Governors of the Recording Academy, and has helped to shape the curriculum for the first master's degree program in the field of Music Business at Belmont University.
"After the Love Has Gone" is a song by Earth, Wind & Fire, released in 1979 as the second single from their ninth studio album I Am on ARC/Columbia Records. The song reached No. 2 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, No. 3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. "After the Love Has Gone" was certified gold in the US by the RIAA and silver in the UK by the BPI.
Gary Katz is an American record producer, best known for his work on albums by Steely Dan. Katz has also produced numerous other recording artists and assisted in the discovery and signing of a number of subsequently successful acts. He has four Grammy nominations.
"Peg" is a song by the American rock group Steely Dan, first released on the band's 1977 album Aja. The track was released as a single in 1977 and reached number 11 on the US Billboard chart in 1978 and number eight on the Cash Box chart. With a chart run of 19 weeks, "Peg" is tied with "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" and "Hey Nineteen" for being Steely Dan's longest-running chart hit. In Canada, "Peg" spent three weeks at number seven in March 1978.
Charles Randolph Goodrum is an American songwriter, pianist, and producer. Goodrum wrote number one songs in each of the four decades after his first number one hit, 1978's "You Needed Me".
El DeBarge is the debut solo album by El DeBarge. It was released on May 6, 1986 through Gordy Records and featured the three hit singles, "Who's Johnny," which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Love Always," which reached #43, and "Someone," which was a Top 20 Billboard A/C hit and made it to #70 on the Hot 100. Singer/actress Vanity featured on backing vocals on the track, "Secrets Of The Night". This album was certified by RIAA as gold in September, 1986, selling over 500,000 copies.
Rhythm of the Night is the fourth studio album by DeBarge, released by Gordy Records on March 14, 1985. It reached #19 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the R&B Album Chart. The album was also certified Gold by the RIAA.
William Riser III, better known as Ricky Lawson or Ricky Remo, was an American drummer and composer. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he worked extensively as a session musician, collaborating with Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Whitney Houston, Steely Dan, Earl Klugh, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and other artists. He co-founded the jazz-fusion band Yellowjackets and won the 1987 Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance for "And You Know That" from their album Shades.
Airplay was an American band, formed by David Foster and Jay Graydon. The band released a self-titled album in 1980, containing "Nothin' You Can Do About It" and the original recording of the Earth, Wind & Fire hit "After the Love Has Gone", written by Foster and Graydon with Bill Champlin.
This Time is the fourth studio album by Jazz vocalist Al Jarreau, released in 1980 on Warner Bros. Records. The release marked a change in Jarreau's sound to a more R&B-oriented flavor. As a result, the album achieved more success on the mainstream charts than his previous works, while also topping the Jazz Charts. It also reached No. 6 on the R&B charts and No. 27 on the Billboard 200." In 1981 "Never Givin' Up" gave Jarreau a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male.
"FM (No Static at All)" is a song by American jazz-rock band Steely Dan and the title theme for the 1978 film FM. It made the US Top 40 the year of its release as a single. A jazz-rock composition of bass, guitar and piano, its lyrics criticize the album-oriented rock format of many FM radio stations at that time, in contrast to the film's celebration of the medium.
Jarreau is the sixth studio album by Al Jarreau, released in 1983. It was his third consecutive #1 album on the Billboard Jazz charts, while also placing at #4 on the R&B album charts and #13 on the Billboard 200. In 1984 the album received four Grammy Award nominations, including for Jay Graydon as Producer of the Year (Non-Classical).
"Aja" is a jazz rock song, with elements of jazz fusion and progressive rock, by the American rock band Steely Dan from the album of the same name, their sixth studio album, released in 1977. Composers Becker and Fagen play guitar and synthesizer, respectively, with studio musicians playing the other parts. Fagen sings lead vocals. Production duties were handled by Gary Katz; the album was released through ABC Records. Musically, it is tonally sophisticated and a structurally complex work that was praised upon release as the most ambitious track the duo had ever attempted. The song's lyrics voice the interior monologue of a man who runs to the title character to escape the stresses of his life "up on the hill." Fagen claimed that it was inspired by the relative of an acquaintance, who had married a Korean woman named Aja. He has described the song as being about the "tranquility that can come of a quiet relationship with a beautiful woman."
Heart's Horizon is a studio album by American singer and musician Al Jarreau. It was released in 1988 through Reprise Records. It reached No. 75 on the Billboard 200.