Jay Chance
Encyclopedia
Jay Chance grew up in Bermondsey
, South London
, and was one of the original rock and roll
singer/guitarist
s who played regularly at The 2i's Coffee Bar, in Old Compton Street
, Soho
, from 1958 to 1960. Famous for being the venue where Tommy Steele
was 'allegedly' first discovered, it is now regarded as the birthplace of British rock and roll and was commemorated with a green plaque from the City of Westminster
on 18 September 2006.
, Tony Sheridan
, Paul Gadd (later to be known as Gary Glitter
) for whom he played backing guitar on several gigs
, Brian Bennett (The Shadows
), Albert Lee, Lance Fortune, Keith Kelly, Buddy Britten, Rory Blackwell, Vince Eager, Terry Dene
, Screaming Lord Sutch
, Johnny Kidd
, Eden Kane
, and many other celebrated early UK rockers. Londoner Chance's vocal delivery and guitar style was 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 acts of choice for the U.S.
servicemen serving on United States 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 him to becoming a successful businessman running his own companies; and latterly a character actor in TV and Films.
on a CD
entitled Rock and Roll Fever alongside new recordings made with an updated line-up of his original backing band, The Chancellors. Chance has become known as "The 50s/60s Man" from the title of his second album (the nickname
also reflects the fact that he started singing and playing in the 1950s, and is now in his sixties). This album which contained all new material, was produced by Rick Lloyd
of 1980's a cappella
group, The Flying Pickets
, was released on his own Chance It record label
. Both albums gained a highly favourable reaction from contemporary music publications which led to Chance 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 28 January 2007. Chance has been described in Maverick magazine
as "a true originator with a voice (still) in fine fettle".
Further albums and a touring schedule have been scheduled for 2007-2008.
Still playing - with a third album to be released, Jay now spends most of his time in Thailand where he and his business partner are the sole importers and distributors for Thailand of draught beers and ciders from around the world; including Carlsberg, Peroni, Tetley's, Kronenbourg, Fosters, Westons Ciders, VB Bitter, Crown Lager etc. They also have a bar and restaurant called The Beach Bar & Grill on Beach Road, Pattaya - near to Central Road (Pattaya Klang)
Bermondsey
Bermondsey is an area in London on the south bank of the river Thames, and is part of the London Borough of Southwark. To the west lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe, and to the south, Walworth and Peckham.-Toponomy:...
, South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
, and was one of the original rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
singer/guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
s who played regularly at The 2i's Coffee Bar, in Old Compton Street
Old Compton Street
Old Compton Street runs east-west through Soho, London, England.- History :The street was named after Henry Compton. who raised funds for a local parish church, eventually dedicated as St Anne's Church in 1686...
, Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, from 1958 to 1960. Famous for being the venue where Tommy Steele
Tommy Steele
Tommy Steele OBE , is an English entertainer. Steele is widely regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star.-Singer:...
was 'allegedly' first discovered, it is now regarded as the birthplace of British rock and roll and was commemorated with a green plaque from the City of Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
on 18 September 2006.
Contemporaries and touring
During Chance's time there, contemporaries included Vince TaylorVince Taylor
Vince Taylor was a British rock and roll singer. As the frontman for The Playboys, Taylor was successful primarily in France and the Continent during the late 1950s and early 1960s, afterwards falling into obscurity amidst personal problems and drug abuse.-Early life:Born Brian Maurice Holden,...
, Tony Sheridan
Tony Sheridan
Tony Sheridan , is an English rock and roll singer-songwriter and guitarist...
, Paul Gadd (later to be known as Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter is an English former glam rock singer-songwriter and musician.Glitter first came to prominence in the glam rock era of the early 1970s...
) for whom he played backing guitar on several gigs
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
, Brian Bennett (The Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
), Albert Lee, Lance Fortune, Keith Kelly, Buddy Britten, Rory Blackwell, Vince Eager, Terry Dene
Terry Dene
Terry Dene is a former British pop singer popular in the late 1950s. He achieved three Top Twenty hits between June 1957 and May 1958.-Career:...
, Screaming Lord Sutch
Screaming Lord Sutch
David Edward Sutch , also known as "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow", or simply "Screaming Lord Sutch", was a musician from the United Kingdom...
, Johnny Kidd
Johnny Kidd
Johnny Kidd, may refer to:*Johnny Kidd , singer best known as the vocalist for Johnny Kidd & The Pirates*Johnny Kidd , British pro wrestler-See also:*John Kidd...
, Eden Kane
Eden Kane
Eden Kane is an early 1960s British pop singer.-Life and career:Like Cliff Richard, Pete Best, and Engelbert Humperdinck, Eden Kane was born in India, but returned to Britain as a child...
, and many other celebrated early UK rockers. Londoner Chance's vocal delivery and guitar style was 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 acts of choice for the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
servicemen serving on United States Air Force bases playing hundreds of gigs throughout the UK, as well as a four week tour in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
during September 1960 playing at the Storyville House of Jazz in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, and Charley’s Star Bar in Hanau
Hanau
Hanau is a town in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany. It is located 25 km east of Frankfurt am Main. Its station is a major railway junction.- Geography :...
. This was to continue until the mid sixties when he decided to take a job in advertising which subsequently led him to becoming a successful businessman running his own companies; and latterly a character actor in TV and Films.
Return to recording
Chance re-entered the mainstream music scene with the discovery of his original 1960s demo records in 2006, which were released by Raucous RecordsRaucous Records
Raucous Records is a British record label focusing on rockabilly, psychobilly, rock and roll, and surf music. The label has released albums such as "Between The Polecats" by The Polecats, "Rock 'n' Roll Fever" by Jay Chance, "Rockabilly Express" by Gary Setzer and Barry Ryan, "The Lost Album" by...
on a CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
entitled Rock and Roll Fever alongside new recordings made with an updated line-up of his original backing band, The Chancellors. Chance has become known as "The 50s/60s Man" from the title of his second album (the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
also reflects the fact that he started singing and playing in the 1950s, and is now in his sixties). This album which contained all new material, was produced by Rick Lloyd
Rick Lloyd
Rick Lloyd is a British actor and musical director best known as a member of the original Flying Pickets who had a Christmas number 1 hit in 1983 with a cover of Yazoo's "Only You"...
of 1980's a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group, The Flying Pickets
The Flying Pickets
The Flying Pickets are a British a cappella vocal group, who had a Christmas number one hit in 1983 in the UK Singles Chart with their cover of Yazoo's track "Only You".-History:...
, was released on his own Chance It record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Both albums gained a highly favourable reaction from contemporary music publications which led to Chance giving his first live performance for many years with an appearance at the '2i's Reunion Concert' at the 100 Club
100 Club
The 100 Club is a music venue in London situated at 100 Oxford Street, W1, originally called The Feldman Swing Club.The 100 Club attained legendary status in modern British music, having played host to live music since 24 October 1942....
in London's Oxford Street
Oxford Street
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, United Kingdom. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, as well as its most dense, and currently has approximately 300 shops. The street was formerly part of the London-Oxford road which began at Newgate,...
on the 28 January 2007. Chance has been described in Maverick magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
as "a true originator with a voice (still) in fine fettle".
Further albums and a touring schedule have been scheduled for 2007-2008.
Still playing - with a third album to be released, Jay now spends most of his time in Thailand where he and his business partner are the sole importers and distributors for Thailand of draught beers and ciders from around the world; including Carlsberg, Peroni, Tetley's, Kronenbourg, Fosters, Westons Ciders, VB Bitter, Crown Lager etc. They also have a bar and restaurant called The Beach Bar & Grill on Beach Road, Pattaya - near to Central Road (Pattaya Klang)
Discography
- Rock ‘n Roll Fever – Raucous Records RAUCD202 2007
- 50’s 60’s Man – Chance It Records CIR001 2007