Chris Jay
Encyclopedia
Chris Jay is a musician
, songwriter
, producer
, writer
and actor
best known as the frontman and founder of the rock band, Army of Freshmen
.
. He attended high school at Lower Cape May Regional
where his parents were both music teachers. They also own a music store, Mr. J’s Music Shop in North Cape May, New Jersey
which is attached to Jay’s childhood home. He formed his first band, Yclept, while still in high school and performed throughout South Jersey including opening for one of his heroes, Arlo Guthrie
, a show which the 16-year-old Jay booked and promoted himself. Upon graduation, he moved, by himself, to Ventura, California
where he formed the band, Army of Freshmen in 1997. Army of Freshmen are still active and have played over 1,000 shows in 43 states and 11 countries and released 4 full length albums. Jay himself has written and or co written over 500 songs, with several of those appearing in films and on television.
of the Beach Boys for 10 million dollars over an article Jay wrote about Love’s continued use of the band’s name despite being the only original member. Many Army of Freshmen fans and Beach Boy fans have no idea the lawsuit existed as it was settled out of court prior to any trial or press coverage.
. Jay along with other AOF members, Aaron Goldberg and Kai Dodson can be seen multiple times in the movie’s opening sequence which was filmed at the Playboy Mansion and stars, Hugh Hefner’s then-girlfriends Holly Madison
and Bridget Marquardt
of The Girls Next Door
.
Jay’s work on The Telling led to his being cast in the upcoming comedy How Beer Pong Saved My Life playing the role of “Frat Boy.” The film is set for a 2011 release will be Jay’s first speaking role in a film. In addition to the acting role, he co wrote the movie’s theme song.
Jay appears as an extra in the Las Vegas crowd sequence of the final fight in sixth Rocky film, Rocky Balboa
. Jay, a fan of the Rocky film series, has a large memorabilia collection.
which Jay makes a cameo in along with the rest of Army of Freshmen.
Jay, along with fellow Army of Freshmen member, Aaron Goldberg, has created and written the pilot and original songs for an animated adult comedy cartoon show, The Spank Finatra Show. Songs and the show’s pilot animatic can be found online.
Jay’s lyrics to the Army of Freshmen song, “Road Less Traveled” are quoted in the book, High School Confidential by Jeremy Iversen.
Jay contributed guest vocals to the Chicago band Plunket’s song “Baby Steps” which was the first single and video off their debut record, All We’ve Got Is This.
Jay contributed guest vocals to the English band, Ten Four And Out’s song, “One of the Crowd.”
Jay co wrote songs on the upcoming debut album by throwback soul group, Jeff Hershey and the Heartbeats
.
Jay (as Chris Jurewicz) is thanked in the liner notes to 2 Live Crew
’s infamous 1989 release As Nasty As They Wanna Be
. Jay was a rap music fan in elementary school and had written a fan letter to the group prior to their success.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
best known as the frontman and founder of the rock band, Army of Freshmen
Army of Freshmen
Army of Freshmen is an independent 6 piece rock band based out of Ventura, California that has played over 1,000 shows in 43 states and 11 countries.-Early Years :...
.
Background/Army of Freshmen
Chris Jay was born Chris Jurewicz in Cape May, New JerseyCape May, New Jersey
Cape May is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States...
. He attended high school at Lower Cape May Regional
Lower Cape May Regional High School
The Lower Cape May Regional High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Lower Township, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Lower Cape May Regional School District. LCMRHS serves students from four communities in Cape May County as part of the Lower Cape...
where his parents were both music teachers. They also own a music store, Mr. J’s Music Shop in North Cape May, New Jersey
North Cape May, New Jersey
North Cape May is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Lower Township, in Cape May County, New Jersey, in the United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 3,618...
which is attached to Jay’s childhood home. He formed his first band, Yclept, while still in high school and performed throughout South Jersey including opening for one of his heroes, Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Davy Guthrie is an American folk singer. Like his father, Woody Guthrie, Arlo often sings songs of protest against social injustice...
, a show which the 16-year-old Jay booked and promoted himself. Upon graduation, he moved, by himself, to Ventura, California
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
where he formed the band, Army of Freshmen in 1997. Army of Freshmen are still active and have played over 1,000 shows in 43 states and 11 countries and released 4 full length albums. Jay himself has written and or co written over 500 songs, with several of those appearing in films and on television.
Journalism
Jay has written for the weekly newspaper, The VC Reporter since 1999. He’s interviewed hundreds of artists and his recent work can be found archived at the paper’s website. He was sued by Mike LoveMike Love
Michael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
of the Beach Boys for 10 million dollars over an article Jay wrote about Love’s continued use of the band’s name despite being the only original member. Many Army of Freshmen fans and Beach Boy fans have no idea the lawsuit existed as it was settled out of court prior to any trial or press coverage.
Production
Jay, along with fellow Army of Freshmen member, Aaron Goldberg, has produced, recorded and co written with several artists in multiple genres. Credits include artists like Delaney Gibson, Exit 4, New Liberty, Lost, Sarah Ashleigh, Sean Deleon, Orlando Napier, Brett Yore, Kevin Conaway and TV news anchor, Michelle Dawn Mooney.Acting
In 2009 Jay was a featured extra in the horror film, The TellingThe Telling (film)
The Telling is a 2009 horror film starring Bridget Marquardt and Holly Madison from the E! television series The Girls Next Door. The film is also the producing debut of Bridget Marquardt who teamed up with veteran Producer Chuck Williams...
. Jay along with other AOF members, Aaron Goldberg and Kai Dodson can be seen multiple times in the movie’s opening sequence which was filmed at the Playboy Mansion and stars, Hugh Hefner’s then-girlfriends Holly Madison
Holly Madison
Hollin Sue Cullen, professionally known as Holly Madison, is an American model, showgirl and television personality. She is widely known for being one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends on the reality television series The Girls Next Door...
and Bridget Marquardt
Bridget Marquardt
Bridget Marquardt is an American television personality, model, and actress. She is best known for her role on the reality television series The Girls Next Door, which depicts her life as one of Playboy magazine publisher Hugh Hefner's girlfriends...
of The Girls Next Door
The Girls Next Door
The Girls Next Door, also known as The Girls of the Playboy Mansion, is an American reality television series broadcast on the E! cable television network...
.
Jay’s work on The Telling led to his being cast in the upcoming comedy How Beer Pong Saved My Life playing the role of “Frat Boy.” The film is set for a 2011 release will be Jay’s first speaking role in a film. In addition to the acting role, he co wrote the movie’s theme song.
Jay appears as an extra in the Las Vegas crowd sequence of the final fight in sixth Rocky film, Rocky Balboa
Rocky Balboa (film)
Rocky Balboa is the sixth and final film in the Rocky franchise, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film, which was also written by Stallone who plays underdog boxer Rocky Balboa, is the sixth film in the Rocky series that began with the Academy Award-winning Rocky thirty years...
. Jay, a fan of the Rocky film series, has a large memorabilia collection.
Other
Jay has written the treatment for all 3 of Army of Freshmen’s videos as well Bowling For Soup’s High School Never EndsHigh School Never Ends
"High School Never Ends" is a song by the Texas pop band Bowling for Soup. The song was the first single off their ninth album, The Great Burrito Extortion Case, and was released on September 19, 2006...
which Jay makes a cameo in along with the rest of Army of Freshmen.
Jay, along with fellow Army of Freshmen member, Aaron Goldberg, has created and written the pilot and original songs for an animated adult comedy cartoon show, The Spank Finatra Show. Songs and the show’s pilot animatic can be found online.
Jay’s lyrics to the Army of Freshmen song, “Road Less Traveled” are quoted in the book, High School Confidential by Jeremy Iversen.
Jay contributed guest vocals to the Chicago band Plunket’s song “Baby Steps” which was the first single and video off their debut record, All We’ve Got Is This.
Jay contributed guest vocals to the English band, Ten Four And Out’s song, “One of the Crowd.”
Jay co wrote songs on the upcoming debut album by throwback soul group, Jeff Hershey and the Heartbeats
Jeff Hershey
Jeff Hershey is a Ventura, California musician best known as the lead singer and founder of Jeff Hershey and the Heartbeats and as a member of the band, No Motiv.-History:...
.
Jay (as Chris Jurewicz) is thanked in the liner notes to 2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew was a hip hop group from Miami, Florida. They caused considerable controversy with the sexual themes in their work, particularly on their 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be.- Early career :...
’s infamous 1989 release As Nasty As They Wanna Be
As Nasty As They Wanna Be
As Nasty As They Wanna Be is the third album by Miami rap group 2 Live Crew. It was released in 1989, and became their largest seller, going 2x Platinum. In 1990, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ruled that the album was legally obscene; this ruling was later...
. Jay was a rap music fan in elementary school and had written a fan letter to the group prior to their success.