Jay Chance Then…
During Jay’s time there, contemporaries included Vince Taylor, Tony Sheridan, Paul Raven (later to be known as Gary Glitter) for whom he played backing guitar on several gigs, Brian Bennett (The Shadows), Lance Fortune, Keith Kelly, Buddy Britten, Vince Eager, Terry Dene, Screaming Lord Sutch , Johnny Kidd, Eden Kane, and many other celebrated early UK rockers. Londoner Jay’s vocal delivery and guitar style was, and still is, markedly more American influenced than many of his fellow artists. It was this authenticity which enabled him to carve out a career with his group, ‘The Chancellors’, as one of the live bands of choice for US servicemen serving on the US Air Force Bases; playing hundreds of gigs throughout the UK, as well as a four week tour in Germany during September 1960 playing at the Storyville House of Jazz in Frankfurt, and Charley’s Star Bar in Hanau. This was to continue until the mid sixties when he decided to take a job in Advertising which subsequently led to him becoming a successful businessman running his own companies; and latterly as a character actor in theatre, television, radio and films. Jay Chance Now… Jay re-entered
the mainstream music scene with the discovery of his original 1960’s
demo recordings in 2006 which were released by Raucous Records on
a CD entitled “Rock ‘n Roll Fever” alongside new
recordings made with an updated line-up of his Jay Chance has become known as “The 50’s 60’s Man” from the title of his second album (the nickname also reflects the fact that he started singing and playing in the 1950’s, and is now in his sixties.) This album which contains all new material, and was produced by Rick Lloyd of 1980’s ‘a cappella’ group The Flying Pickets, and released on Jay’s own ‘Chance It’ label. Both albums gained a highly favourable reaction from contemporary music publications which led to Jay giving his first live performance for many years with an appearance at the ‘2I’s Reunion Concert’ at the ‘100 Club’ in London’s Oxford Street on the 28th January 2007. Further albums and tours are now being scheduled.
|
Jay
Chance was one of the original British Rock and Roll singer/guitarists
who played regularly at the 2I’s Coffee Bar, the iconic music
venue in London’s Old Compton Street, Soho, from 1958 to 1960.
The 2I’s is now regarded as the birthplace of British Rock ’n
Roll.