Jay Graydon

Jay Graydon (born October 8, 1949, Burbank, California) is an American songwriter, recording artist, guitarist, singer, 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. 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.[1] 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 over 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 and Mahogany.

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, Thank God It's Friday, 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 for 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.

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".[2]

Steely Dan

Graydon played the guitar solo on the song "Peg" on Steely Dan's 1977 album Aja.

David "Fathead" Newman

Discography

Solo albums
YearAlbm TitleNotes
1993Airplay For The Planet
2001Bebop
2006Past To Present - The 70s
2008Airplay For The Planet - Live In Japan

Collaborations
YearArtistAlbm TitleRole(s)
1974Boz ScaggsSlow DancerGuitars
Joe CockerI Can Stand a Little Rain
1975Gino VannelliStorm at Sunup
Aretha FranklinYou
Barbra StreisandLazy Afternoon
1976Albert KingAlbert
Candi StatonYoung Hearts Run Free
Paul AnkaThe Painter
Jennifer WarnesJennifer Warnes
Marvin GayeI Want You
DonovanSlow Down WorldSynthesizer, programming
CherI'd Rather Believe in YouGuitar, mandolin
Stephen BishopCarelessElectric guitar, acoustic guitar
Gino VannelliThe Gist of the GeminiElectric guitar
1977Olivia Newton-JohnMaking a Good Thing BetterElectric guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar
Dolly PartonHere You Come AgainPedal steel guitar
Boz ScaggsDown Two Then LeftGuitar, guitar solo
Steely DanAjaGuitar solo
Rhythm HeritageLast Night on EarthLead guitar
Marlena ShawSweet BeginningsGuitar
Paul AnkaThe Music Man
Jackie DeShannonYou're the Only Dancer
Leo SayerThunder in My Heart
Dionne WarwickLove at First Sight
Shaun CassidyBorn Late
DalbelloLisa Dal Bello
Syreeta WrightRich Love, Poor Love
1978Various ArtistsGrease Soundtrack
Carole Bayer Sager...Too
Leo SayerLeo Sayer
Melissa ManchesterDon't Cry Out Loud
Barbra StreisandSongbird
Paul AnkaListen to Your Heart
Helen ReddyWe'll Sing in the Sunshine
Juice NewtonWell Kept Secret
Shaun CassidyUnder Wraps
Candi StatonHouse of Love
Valerie CarterWild Child
Ben E. KingLet Me Live in Your Life
Rhythm HeritageSky's the Limit
Alice CooperFrom The InsideGuitar, synthesizer programming
Brian CaddYesterdaydreamsSynthesiser
Rita CoolidgeLove Me AgainGuitar, acoustic guitar
Nigel OlssonNigel OlssonGuitar, electric guitar
PagesPagesEngineer, guitar, horns, keyboard programming, producer, songwriter
1979Barbra StreisandWetElectric guitar
Christopher CrossChristopher CrossGuitar solo
CherTake Me HomeGuitar
Paul AnkaHeadlines
Peter AllenI Could Have Been a Sailor
Yvonne EllimanYvonne
Donna SummerBad Girls
Rhythm HeritageDisco Derby
Nigel OlssonNigelElectric guitar, acoustic guitar
The Manhattan TransferExtensionsProducer, arrangement, guitars, synthesisers, guitar solo, additional vocals, synthesizer programming, Mixing and Overdub Tracking
Marc JordanBlue Desert Lead guitar, synthesiser, arranger, conductor, producer, engineer
Earth, Wind & FireI Am Songwriter
1980Peter AllenBi-CoastalGuitar
Syreeta WrightSyreetaMusician
Bernie TaupinHe Who Rides the TigerElectric Guitar
Mariya TakeuchiMiss MAcoustic and electric guitars, rhythm arrangement, backing vocals, songwriter
AirplayAirplayProducer, guitar, lead and backing vocals, overdubbing, mixing, songwriter
Al JarreauThis TimeSynthesiser programming, electric guitar, rhythm arrangements, producer, engineer
1981Breakin' AwayProducer, mixing, songwriter, electric guitar, synthesiser programming, rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements
Dolly PartonDolly, Dolly, DollyGuitar
Carole Bayer SagerSometimes Late at Night
The Manhattan TransferMecca for ModernsProducer, songwriter, guitar, synthesiser, arrangements
PagesPagesComposer, engineer, guitar, mixing, producer, programming
1982Herbie HancockLite Me UpComposer, engineer, guitar, producer, songwriter
Dionne WarwickFriends in LoveProducer, rhythm arrangements, synthesisers, guitar, percussion, recording, mixing
1983Donna SummerShe Works Hard for the MoneySongwriter, guitar
The TubesOutside InsideSpecial Musical Contributor
Paul AnkaWalk a Fine LineComposer
Sheena EastonBest Kept SecretGuitar, producer, engineer
Christopher CrossAnother PageGuitar solo
David FosterThe Best Of Me Composer, engineer, guitar, songwriter
Al JarreauJarreauProducer, songwriter, rhythm arrangements, guitar, synthesisers, guitar solo, engineering
1984High CrimeProducer, songwriter, guitar, arrangements, synthesisers, computer concept
1985DeBargeRhythm of the NightProducer, songwriter, guitars, synthesisers
1986El DeBargeEl DeBargeSynthesiser, guitar, songwriter, arranger, producer, engineer
Kenny RogersThey Don't Make Them Like They Used ToProducer, engineer, songwriter, synthesisers, lead guitar, electronic drums, arrangements, guitar solo, drums, guitar lines
Al JarreauL Is for LoverSongwriter
1988Heart's HorizonProducer, songwriter, synthesisers
Art GarfunkelLeftyProducer, engineer
George BensonTwice the LoveProducer, synthesisers, drums, arrangements, engineer, mixing
1989El DeBargeGeminiProducer, songwriter
1993Planet 3Music From The PlanetGuitars, keyboards, programming, mixing, recording
2004Gems UnearthedLead guitar, keyboards, programming, liner notes, mastering
2008JaRScene 29Lead and backing vocals, guitar, drums, synthesiser, composer, arranger, producer, engineer, mixing and mastering

Grammy Awards
Year AwardedNominee/workCategoryResultRef.
1980 "After the Love Has Gone" (Earth, Wind & Fire) Song of the Year (shared with Bill Champlin & David Foster) Nominated [3][4][5]
Best Rhythm & Blues Song (shared with Bill Champlin & David Foster) Won
1981 "Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone" (The Manhattan Transfer) Best Arrangement for Voices (shared with Alan Paul) Nominated [6]
1982 Breakin' Away (Al Jarreau) Album of the Year (shared with Al Jarreau) Nominated [7]
"Kafka" (The Manhattan Transfer) Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices (shared with Bernard Kafka) Nominated
1983 "Turn Your Love Around" (George Benson) Best Rhythm & Blues Song (shared with Bill Champlin & Steve Lukather) Won [8]
1984 Jarreau (Al Jarreau) Producer of the Year (Non-Classical) Nominated [9]
Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical (shared with Ian Eales & Eric Prestis) Nominated
"Mornin'" (Al Jarreau) Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) (shared with David Foster & Jeremy Lubbock) Nominated
"Step by Step" (Al Jarreau) Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) (shared with Tom Canning, Jerry Hey & Al Jarreau) Nominated
1985 Ghostbusters Soundtrack (various artists) Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special (shared with various artists & producers) Nominated [10]
1986 St. Elmo's Fire Soundtrack (various artists) Nominated [11]

References
  1. Graydon, Jay (February 29, 2000). "MusicPlayer Forums: Jay Graydon here". musicplayer.com. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
  2. JaR. CDBaby. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
  3. "Jay Graydon - Artist". Grammy Award. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  4. "Grammy Awards & Nominations". Awards & shows. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  5. "Grammy Awards 1980". Awards & shows. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  6. "Grammy Awards 1981". Awards & shows. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  7. "Grammy Awards 1982". Awards & shows. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  8. "Grammy Awards 1983". Awards & shows. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  9. "Grammy Awards 1984". Awards & shows. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  10. "Grammy Awards 1985". Awards & shows. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  11. "Grammy Awards 1986". Awards & shows. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
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