My interview with Sandy Deanne almost never happened.

First, there were email issues. When we actually meet on Zoom, my Internet router reset itself halfway through the interview. A couple of days later, flooding in New York City knocked out his internet. The following day, we finally connected and had a great conversation. The interview was not doomed after all!

Sandy Deanne is a founding member of the Jay and the Americans. They formed in New York and were initially known as the Harbor Lites.

Besides Sandy, other founding members of the group include Kenny Vance, Howie Kane, and John “Jay” Traynor. The songwriting team of Leiber/Stoller gave the group their name and were also the producers on the band’s first few releases, including She Cried.

Between 1962-1969, Jay and the Americans had 18 singles on Billboard, five of them reached the Top 10. In Canada, four of their songs reached #1 records, including three in 1965: Come a Little Bit Closer, Let’s Lock the Door (and Throw Away the Key) and Cara Mia. In 1969, they reached #1 in Canada with This Magic Moment.

The band still tours, performing around 30–45 dates each year. I spoke with Sandy Deanne shortly before their show in Western New York. In this clip, we talk about the history of the band, and it’s three “Jays.” You may also learn some things you may not know about Jay and the Americans – like their connections to Broadway, Joan Jett, Steely Dan, and someone named “Binky Jones.”

Enjoy!

Interview Copyright Peter J. Maurin, The Vinyl Professor. Published under Creative Commons License: Attribution/Non-Commercial Use.