When you hear the word success, what comes to mind? The guest in this episode, renowned Jay David, who is an accomplished drummer, singer, songwriter, musician, actor, recovery counselor, and speaker, has dazzled the audience in numerous performances, including his position with Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show and he will dazzle you too! Jay shares how his love and talent for music began. His first appearance was at the age of two and a half. (He will tell you more about it on the show!)! This show intertwines his life’s journey as climbs and rises to the peak of fame and what was to follow. Jay is a hoot to listen to as he talks about being at Mercury Records in New York City…
“I was playing whenever all of the songwriters (they had about a hundred fifty songwriters) and whenever the songwriters would come up with a song that management thought was good, they went and they had me come in and record the drum parts for it. Then, along with two other instruments, it would just be a trio, and somebody would sing it. That’s how they would shop those songs to other artists that were looking for material in those days (this being the late 60s) and so I was in the studio all the time. Then I began singing the songs too. Then I began playing the piano, then the drums and things. So I was I was very busy. And one day this producer came in and he said, “Hey Jay! Listen to this song! And he played me a song called, “The Last Morning,” and he said, “This is a new group called, “Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show,” and they don’t have a drummer. They’re looking for a drummer. Do you want to go?” Well, I was the staff drummer.”
Later the group went to Columbia Records to meet with Clive Davis. While waiting amongst others and wanting to stand out so as to get a contract, here is what Jay said he did: “I walked behind his desk and took his trash can and turned it upside down and Dennis Andrade took that acoustic guitar and I played the trash can. That’s how we did our audition; in his office. The next day they signed us to a $750,000 deal.” Jay also shared how there were challenges with the BBC and what they would not let air due to possible copyright infringement and a “word” in a song, all of which he details and you will find quite interesting when you tune in!
Jay has recently been in some films and has released his “hilarious and insightful” new parody, “The Cover of the AARP,” on the album “This Road,” which includes originals and songs by Stephen Stills, Joe Egan (Steeler’s Wheel), and JJ Cale.
There is a lot to glean from this episode. For example, through perseverance, envisioning a dream, then pursuing that dream, you CAN achieve it! Jay says, “I’m a drummer for life. I always have been. I always will be and I’ll always make music. I have a little recording studio in my house here and I’ll be recording later today- JayDavismusic.com.”