JAY ISAACSON MUSIC BIO

Jay Isaacson is a multi-talented singer, keyboardist, entertainer, writer and arranger of various styles of music. Music for Jay is a passion, and this guy isn't about to stop making it!

Jay was born and raised in the Detroit, Michigan area, where he started singing in the basement along with Glen Campbell records as a 3 year-old. He took piano lessons from the age of 7 through high school. At Thurston High School in Redford Township he was keyboard player for the jazz band, played clarinet in the honors and concert bands, and was also involved in musical theater and barbershop quartets. In 1984, his senior year, he received the John Philip Sousa Band Award and the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, and sang the class song (“Theme from Mahogany”) at his graduation ceremony. His musical tastes in his early years were directed towards what his dad would play on the record player in the basement ... 101 Strings, Mantovani, Ferrante & Teicher ... and on the antique Victrola, the sounds of Bing Crosby, Perry Como, and various big bands. As Jay never really “got into” rock music as a youngster, the adult contemporary sounds of vocalists Barry Manilow, John Denver and Neil Diamond, as well as Frank Sinatra plus jazz singers filled his musical mind, along with the hymns heard on the organ during Sunday morning church.

Jay received the Evans Scholarship (for golf caddies) and attended Michigan State University in East Lansing. During his years there, he directed the Folk Group at Martin Luther Chapel, arranging and conducting contemporary church music for the "folk" services. He was also keyboardist for the Lansing-based Rich Astalos Big Band for a year.

Songwriting was a major activity for awhile in the late '80s, and Jay distributed copies of songs he co-wrote with others to friends and family. In early 1987, the love song "Lonely", sung by Jay and written with friend Jim Simos, was aired nightly for a month in Detroit on the Alan Almond show on WMJC-FM. After graduating from MSU with a general business degree, Jay performed 4 Christmas songs on live radio during the Jimmy Launce Morning Show on December 19, 1988 on Superstation WJR-AM, Detroit.

In 1990, Jay got married (writing an original song for his wedding, “Walk In Love”), and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his wife. In 1991 he was keyboardist/vocalist for the blues/classic rock band Aces & Eights for a year. Also while in Milwaukee, Jay has been involved with the music program at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Brookfield, and in 1994 was chosen to direct and coordinate the brand new Contemporary Choir. Jay functions as a choir director, and also as a song leader and worship band leader. He also accompanies the Family Singers, a church singing group composed of 2 local families who've sung for worship services in the area, and also for banquets and nursing homes. They have also performed Easter concerts at Immanuel which Jay directs.

Since 1995 Jay has been singing on radio and television commercials, and his voice has been heard on over a dozen small-market commercials in 6 states throughout the Midwest. It's been a huge thrill for Jay to sing in the studio with terrific singers like Janet Planet (WAMI-Award winning, nationally-known Wisconsin-based jazz singer whom the late Steve Allen heard, and said: “There are so many dumb and inarticulate singers today and it’s a pleasure to hear someone who knows what singing is all about”) and Tim Dorsey (who once sang with well-known Milwaukee band “Streetlife with Warren Wiegratz” and is the PERFECT Stevie Wonder). As a soloist Jay enjoys singing for wedding ceremonies, and provides dinner music for receptions, parties and other events. Since 1996 he has been keyboardist/vocalist for the well-known wedding/variety band Rumor in the Greater Milwaukee area. Recently he's been working with Delafield, Wisconsin-based vocalist Jean Wenzel in the duo "Class Act." During the day he works in the marketing department at Cascio Interstate Music, Wisconsin's largest musical instrument retailer.

What lies ahead in the future for Jay's music? He wants to continue providing music for weddings, leading and arranging contemporary worship music at his church, along with the occasional songwriting and producing of music. Not known necessarily as a "rocker" (except for singing tunes with "Rumor"), he'd like to really explore more jazz vocal and piano stylings ... things he does to an extent, but would like to dig deeper into. "I sometimes wish I'd taken the time to really study jazz piano when I was younger," he states. It's a busy and full musical life nonetheless, but Jay wouldn't have it any other way, for music has been the key for opening many doors along the way. If he were to make a record, it would be a Christmas CD ("...what else would I do that anybody would buy?" he says) of a variety of musical styles, with the "musical friends" he's made over the years. But, his original songs always call back to him so maybe it's time to do something with those too.

Jay is thankful to God for his music, for he knows this all comes from Him. He realizes he's been blessed with unique abilities, and he wants and needs to share the music inside him with others, whether it's thru church or in other venues. He feels that “if you’ve got the gift, why not use it?” His passion for "all things musical" has led him into a variety of musical situations, each containing their own challenges, yet each handled adequately by his depth of talent.