With experience covering work with Scottish Opera, fifteen years playing major roles in musicals in London’s West End, several tours of Germany playing the title role in Phantom Of The Opera and touring the world - entertaining on board cruise-ships, Jay can bring every style of music to his shows: from opera, the Broadway Musicals and ‘The Rat Pack’ ... right through to the present day. And, being an accomplished guitarist, Jay’s repertoire covers literally everything from Pavarotti to Pink Floyd!!!
In addition to his normal repertoire, Jay also performs three tribute shows: ON BROADWAY (a tribute to the musicals), THE BRUCE (a tribute to Bruce Springsteen) and I AM, I SAID (a tribute to Neil Diamond).
I studied singing with Jeanette Mackay and drama at Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh. After working extensively in theatre and TV in Scotland, I won the rôle of Perchik in Scottish Opera's production of Fiddler On The Roof.
I moved to London to cover and play the rôles of Lt. Cable in South Pacific and M. André in Phantom Of The Opera.
TV rôles in Taggart and London's Burning followed along with the part of rock singer Davey Balfour in BBC Radio's adaptation of the Ian Banks novel, Espedair Street, and I returned to the West End stage, taking over as Captain Tempest in Bob Carlton's Olivier Award winning Return To The Forbidden Planet.
Then came three years in Berlin, where I created the rôle of Captain Sturm in Shakespeare And Rock 'N' Roll (the German reworking of Return To The Forbidden Planet - performed in German) and stayed on in the show, to take over as Prospero and feature regularly on German TV.
All of the above work has been "punctuated" with concert tours, in the U.K., abroad, and at sea, with P&O and Celebrity Cruises, featuring both my own act and working with my sister, Heather Jackson (former Mme. Giry in Phantom Of The Opera in London).
Before taking over as The Phantom in the German tour of Das Phantom Der Oper (again, performed in German), I was invited to create the rôle of Thomas in the newly written musical A Rhymer Sang (written by Mark Robertson), performed at the Vivian Ellis Awards at Her Majesty's Theatre, London. Also playing opposite my sister!
In November 2000 I recreated the character of the world-famous explorer Dr. David Livingstone in the new musical Dr. Livingstone... I Presume?, at the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London - written and directed by Toby Gough. I then returned to the German tour of Das Phantom Der Oper between December and February, renewing my acquaintance with well known, L.A. sound-engineer and producer Dennis Moody.
I appeared in concert at The Palace Theatre, Longridge, Preston and the St. Helen's Festival, in July 2001 and there are always ongoing performances in concerts and cabaret, both in London and my homeland of Scotland.
In October 2001 I created the characters of "Slugger" and "Renfrew" in the new musical, A Sense Of Freedom, at the Notre Damme Hall, London in October 2001, and finished work on the show's CD.
In May 2002, I became the leading male singer with a new Scottish variety show, The Pride of Scotland, featuring the mezzo-soprano, Thora Ker, and the champion accordionist, Paul Chamberlain. This was an ongoing project and ran alongside my other work. After taking some time out, in Australia, in 2003, I was asked, in February 2004, to recreate the rôle of "Hugh Cassidy" in Over the Rainbow, (Songs in the Life of Eva Cassidy), written by Brian Langtry and Stephen Leatherland, and Directed by Stephen Leatherland. Stephen then asked if I would continue working for his production company, Theatre Productions, by taking over the rôle of "Kenny Rogers" in the touring, tribute show, Legends of Country. I then took part in the workshop for a new musical about the life of Horatio Nelson, now called Legacy, directed by David Gilmour, taking the rôles of Lord Hamilton and Hardy. The workshop performance took place at Lillian Bayliss House, West Hampstead, London on July 7th, 2004 and the writers intended the show to open, in the West End, some time in 2005, to coincide with Nelson's 200th anniversary.
On July 26th, 2004, I started rehearsals for the new, national tour of Kiss Me, Kate, taking the rôles of Harry Trevor and Baptista. The tour 'kicked off' at The Wimbledon New Theatre on August 23rd, 2004 and ended at the Cardiff Millennium Centre on April 16th, 2005.
On a more light-hearted note, I reformed my old rock band, DUTCH, from circa 1977, for a reunion gig at the social club at Livingston Police Station, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland on June 11th, 2004. Over £200 was raised for the charity DRAKE (Scotland), which is supported by percussionist Evelyn Glennie.
On June 28th, 2005 I finished shooting on SUMMER SOLSTICE (Producers: David Cunliffe / ZDF, Director: Giles Foster) (Starring: Jacqueline Bisset, Honor Blackman, Sinnead Cussack, Lara Joy Korner, Janet Brown, Franco Nero & Jason Durr.) at Dundas Castle, South Queensferry, Scotland.
In May 2005 I was asked to return to the rôle of "Hugh Cassidy" in Over the Rainbow, (Songs in the Life of Eva Cassidy) after Michael Cuckson, who had taken over the rôle from me, was injured.
Having worked with Giles Foster (Director) on SUMMER SOLSTICE, I was asked by Giles to play a role in his next project, THIS SEPTEMBER (Shades Of Love), in May 2011.
Between theatre and filming commitments, I have also been working extensively on the Scottish and national concert and cabaret circuit and released (5th March, 2013) "TONIGHT," my first solo CD.
From March 1st, 2014, I have been performing three tribute shows: 'On Broadway' (a tribute to the musicals), 'The Bruce' (a tribute to Bruce Springsteen) and 'I Am, I Said' (a tribute to Neil Diamond).
In March, 2019, I fulfilled a lifelong ambition and emigrated to Australia. I am now working regularly on the Queensland music circuit (managed by Ray 'Pappy' Fuller at Platypus Road Management), and signed to BMEG for my acting work.
For a more detailed picture of my career, take a look at my CV page.
