A quartet of pop musicians has been performing in Nevada, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York in recent months.
Now, after spending much of this past year touring from one coast of the United States to the other, Jay and the Americans are currently in the studio and will be making their way up north at the end of the month to play in Canada.
The legendary group, with roots in the 1960s rock and roll music scene, is returning to perform again at Langley’s Cascades Casino on Thursday, Oct. 30 – the second time in as many years.
It all started in 1959, with a vocal group called The Harborlites and a bunch of white dinner jackets.
Through several label changes, and years of ups and down the boys have apparently arrived at a place where “the groove is right, the music is tight, and the fun is the reason for being,†said show promoter Rob Warwick, of Rock-It Boy Entertainment.
“Along the way, there have been a string of hits from covers to original material,†he said, listing She Cried, and There Goes My Baby, and Cara Mia among their hits.
Between 1962 and 1971, the group enjoyed 12 Top 10 records, and in 2002 were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame – placing them among the greatest vocal groups in rock and roll history.
“Few bands have ever reached the musical heights of Jay and the Americans,†Warwick said.
And that band is coming to Langley to perform again – it’s last local show was in February 2012.
Jay and the Americans, now features founding member Sandy Deanne, as well as Jay Reincke, Howie Kane, and Marty Sanders.
They describe themselves as four kids from Brooklyn who have survived the rocky road from two-track recording and vinyl 45s to downloading on iTunes.
Right after a show in New York this weekend, they’ll be heading to B.C.
"What we remember most about our last trip to Langley," Deanne told the Langley Advance, "was the great reception we got from our fans who ame to see the show. It is very rewarding and we really enjoy playing in Canada in general."
They have travelled up to Canada four times in the past six years, and Deanne said "every time the people are always so warm and friendly to us.
Tickets for their Oct. 30 show are $54.50 from www.ticketweb.ca, in person at the casino guest services, or through charge-by-phone at 604-530-2211.
Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show at 8, at Cascades, 20393 Fraser Hwy.
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