Miles Jaye
| Miles Jaye | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Miles Jaye Davis |
| Born |
November 12, 1957 (age 58) Yonkers, New York, U.S. |
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, violinist |
| Instruments | Violin, keyboards, bass |
| Years active | Early 1980s–present |
| Labels | Island, Black Tree |
| Associated acts |
Village People Teddy Pendergrass |
| Website |
www |
Miles Jaye Davis (born November 12, 1957), known professionally as Miles Jaye, is an American R&B and jazz singer, jazz violinist, songwriter, and record producer. He had several hits on the US R&B chart in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the biggest of which was "Let's Start Love Over" in 1987. He was for a time the lead singer of Village People.
Life and career
He was born in Yonkers, New York,[1] and studied music theory and classical violin for more than a decade at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Saratoga School of Orchestral Studies, Indian Hill and Brooklyn College (now Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music).[2] He also played flute, keyboards and bass while in the US Air Force, and launched his singing career while at Clarke Air Force Base in the Philippines.[3] Jaye toured Europe with jazz guitarist Eric Gale and singers Phyllis Hyman and Jon Lucien before taking over as "Cop" in the Village People in the mid 1980s.[3] He stayed with the band for two years before launching his solo career and signing to Teddy Pendergrass' production company Top Priority Records. He released his debut album, Miles, on Island Records, and the song "Let's Start Love Over," written by Micheal Claxton,[4] was released as a single and rose to # 5 on the Billboard R&B chart in late 1987. Its follow-up, "I've Been a Fool For You" was also a top ten R&B hit and has become a soul classic. Jaye also contributed, as musician, songwriter and co-producer, to Pendergrass' hit 1988 album, Joy.[3]
Jaye released two further albums on Island, Irresistible (1989) and Strong (1991), and continued to have hits on the R&B chart such as "Heaven" and "Objective" until 1991 before forming his own company, Black Tree Records, on which he released a string of increasingly jazz-influenced albums.[5] He has also worked with leading jazz musicians including George Duke, Roy Ayers, Grover Washington, Jr. and Branford Marsalis.[2]
Jaye's son, Miles II and daughter, Asia appeared in the "Let's Start Love Over" and "Objective" videos. Asia appeared as the little girl in the "Let's Start Love Over" video directed by Eric Mezza.[6]
Discography
Chart singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| US R&B[1] | ||
| 1987 | "Let's Start Love Over" | 5 |
| 1988 | "I've Been A Fool For You" | 8 |
| 1989 | "Objective" | 10 |
| "I'll Be There" | 30 | |
| "Heaven" | 12 | |
| 1990 | "Irresistible" | 42 |
| 1991 | "Sensuous" | 42 |
| "Strong For You" | 67 | |
Albums
- Miles (1987)
- Irresistible (1989)
- Strong (1991)
- The Odyssey (1998)
- Humanity (1999)
- Divine Ascension (2003)
- Time to Get My Mind Right (2004)
- Romantic Storm (2005)
- Secret Waters (2007)
- Christmas with Miles Jaye (2008)
- The Truth About Love (2009)
- God's Creation (2010)
- Attenergy (2011)
- Brighter Days (2013)
- Romantic Night (2014)
References
- 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 225.
- 1 2 Miles Jaye website: Biography
- 1 2 3 Biography by Ron Wynn at Allmusic.com
- ↑
- ↑ Miles Jaye website: Discography
- ↑ Miles Jaye Photo Gallery (pictures include one of him sitting with his daughter) Retrieved 11-24-2011.
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