Jay Leach

..Taylor Hicks and Jay Backstage at the Roxy..
I was born in Oklahoma City,OK but grew up in Wichita, Kansas. I began playing music when my grandmother insisted that I begin lessons on the Hawaiian Steel Guitar shortly after my eighth birthday and continued playing Steel Guitar until I was 14 when I switched to electric guitar and began playing in local bands.
When I was 15 I became a member and then leader of a local Witchita band called "The Fabulous Apostles" which grew from a local garage band to one of the most popular Midwest bands in the late 60s on what was then called the "KOMA" circuit (this referred to the call letters of a 50,000 watt radio station that broadcasted from Oklahoma City advertising bands over a nearly 10 state area).
I came to Los Angeles in the early 70s and began pursuing a career as a professional musician but in 1973 had an experience that would change the course and destiny of my life forever... I opened my heart to Jesus. Within a few short months of that decision I was completely out of the music business and seriously considering going into the ministry, specifically as a Navy Chaplain, but God had a different plan.
About a year later I began to feel strongly impressed that my life calling really was music, but it was going to be far different than I had originally envisioned. Doors began to open with local rock bands and then on the recommendation of a guitar player and friend, Jay Graydon, I met Ted Greene (considered by many to be one of the greatest American guitarist and teachers in history). Ted agreed to take me as a private student on a weekly basis, something he rarely did with his students. This along with going back to school to study music and communication combined with studying sight reading with a symphony conductor really began to pay off. Many new playing chances began to open up leading to the opportunity to become guitarist for Barry Manilow for a year in the late 70s.
Following that, many new doors began to open and many recording sessions during the years that followed including several TV shows, some movie soundtracks, jingles, and many Christian albums but, I was about to have another major life changing event......a nearly fatal collision with a drunk driver.
Much could be said regarding injuries, rehab, etc. but suffice it to say that one year later to the month of the accident by virtue of God's grace and the prayers of many, I was in the studio recording my first guitar album as a solo artist. Today I continue working as a freelance musician in Los Angeles and travel as a solo artist doing concerts and guitar master classes nationally.
"If I died tomorrow, I would want people to say, 'He was a happy, honest man who sought excellence as a musician. As a parent and a husband he was a blessing to his family and his life pleased the Lord.' I feel privileged to be a working musician in L.A. with some of the greatest musicians and guitarists on the planet. I hope to always continue to grow as both an artist and a player and be an inspiration to as many people as possible"
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