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Jay Craik

Good Times, Guitars & Rock n Roll

About Me

Nashville based songwriter/guitarist Jay Craik blends country, blues and rock with poignant lyrics into solid, flowing melodies resulting in well-crafted catchy songs. Add his profoundly soulful guitar styling and a voice that is rugged and honest, and you have the quintessential Jay Craik.Though born in Chicago, Craik has spent most of his life in Southern California. Growing up as the youngest of four boys, he was exposed to music at a very early age "The early AM radio stations like KEZY and KHJ as well as KRLA had a big impact" beyond that his influences run the gamut from songwriters such as Steve Earle, Guy Clark, Van Morrison and the Beatles to guitar greats Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Dickey Betts, as well as bands like The Rolling Stones and The Who.Craik draws inspiration for his music from his real life experiences, including personal struggles and triumphs. He has played hundreds of shows throughout Southern California at such famed spots as the Troubadour, Whisky A-Go-Go, the Roxy, etc., first as guitarist for the bands Stonedowner, Within, Nickel Slick and The Longnecks. He then stepped out in front handling vocals, songwriting and guitars for Ten Cent Nickel. With Ten Cent Nickel, Craik reached a much broader audience via live radio shows in Los Angeles, live performances on local cable access shows and had a song placed in the feature film, "Do Me a Favor", starring Roseanna Arquette.Before relocating to Nashville in 2002, Craik embarked on a solo career, focusing on his songwriting and scaling his songs down to bare bones – his voice and guitar – and began taking the stage at more of the acoustic friendly L.A. venues. His solo performances have given him the gratification of knowing his songs could stand alone without the backing of a band. It even led to a few unexpected opportunities including a performance at the GRAMMY Electric Bus; a mobile exhibit that brought Seattle’s renowned EMP (Experience Music Project) to local audiences during GRAMMY week 2001.Craik is currently writing and recording at his home studio in the country, just north of Nashville. He continues to share his music on stages around the country, where he admits he feels most comfortable. Craik also finds time to enjoy his other passions: animals, mountain biking golf and jammin with friends. His charitable spirit has led him to helping the homeless, a truly rewarding experience.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 10/27/2006
Band Website: web.mac.com/jcraiksongs
Band Members: TO HEAR MORE SONGS AND VIEW MORE PHOTOS PLEASE VISIT THE "BAND WEBSITE" LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE WHAT YOUR READING NOW
Influences: Well I would say anything or anyone that makes me happy and moves me in some way...as far as music it would fall somewhere into Zepplin, The Stones, Gram Parsons, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, The International Submarine Band, The Who, The Doors, Frank Marino, James Marshall Hendrix, Steve Earle, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, ZZ Top, Ted Nugent, John Denver, George Thorogood, Merle Haggard, The Bum Steers, Willie Nelson, Dean Martin, Chris Hillman, Aerocrisp, Fat Boy Slim, The 5th Dimension, ACDC, Red Rhodes and the Detours, Al Stewart, The Allman Brothers, Roger Miller, Michael Moore for telling it like it is, Anything Motown, Shiloh, The Beach Boys, Badly Drawn Boy, Bill Cosby, Johnny Cash, Black Sabbath, Carl Perkins, Bruce Springsteen, Blackfoot, Bob Marley, Randy Meisner, My Brother Mike, Harry Nilsson, Booker T. & The MG's, Brewer & Shipley, Kris Kristofferson, Buddy Holly, Yes, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, World Party, Hank Williams, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, Whiskeytown, Waylon Jennings, Sly Fuckin Stone, George Jones, Vince Gill, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Ralph Stanley, The Animal Analee, Harlan Howard, Judas Priest, Uriah Heep, The Great Speckled Bird, UFO, Jeff Beck, Steve Cropper, The Texas Twosome, Owens "Boomer" Castleman, Herb Alpert, Mike Nesmith, John Lee Hooker, Jim Ladd, The Buffalo Springfield, U2, Crosby Stills & Nash, Triumph, Tom Petty, The Outlaws, Tom Jones, Willie Nelson, Todd Rundgren, Thin Lizzy, The Temptations, Longbranch Pennywhistle, Ted Hawkins, Taj Mahal, James Burton, Supertramp, The Byrds, Marty Stuart, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Steely Dan, Jackson Brown, Simon & Garfunkel, Rush, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Rodney Crowell, Poco, Rory Gallagher, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Rod Stewart, Steve Young, Amos Garrett, Robin Trower, Frank Zappa, Gene Clark, Robert Cray, The Red Hot Burrito Brothers, Rick Derringer, REM, Bernie Leadon, Pat Travers, Maria Muldaur, Lefty Frizzell, Neil Young, Ziggy Marley, Norman Blake, Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band, Neil Diamond, Moby Grape, Joni Mitchell, Rusty Young, The Everly Brothers, Ricky Skaggs, April Wine, Linda Ronstadt, Mississippi John Hurt, Masters of Reality, Buck Owens, Al Perkins, Tom Rush, Marvin Gaye, Dillard And Clark, The Dillards, The Animals, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jethro Tull, Clarence White, Joe Walsh, Webb Pierce, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mark Knopfler, The Desert Rose Band, Dire Straits, The Marshall Tucker Band, Hugh Masakela, The Grateful Dead, Grand Funk Railroad, Glen Campbell, Gordon Lightfoot, The Georgia Satallites, Elton John, Eric Clapton, The Eagles, Doc Watson, Deep Purple, Chuck Berry, Cheech & Chong, Canned Heat, The Cars. "The fact is there are to many to mention...."
Sounds Like: "Rock n Roll to me"
Type of Label: None