Jay Ferguson (American musician) facts for kids

John Arden "Jay" Ferguson (born May 10, 1947) is an American rock and pop musician. He is well-known for his work with the bands Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne. He also had a solo hit song called "Thunder Island" in 1978. Later in his career, Jay Ferguson became a composer. He wrote music for many TV shows and movies. One of his most famous works is the theme song for the American TV show The Office.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Jay Ferguson was born on May 10, 1947, in Burbank, California. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. When he was 12 years old, his parents encouraged him to take classical piano lessons.

As he got older, his interest changed to the banjo when he was 16. Jay and his brother Tom, who played the fiddle, formed a bluegrass band. They called their group The Oat Hill Stump Straddlers. Jay also played in local bands like Western Union and The Red Roosters.

Joining the Band Spirit

In the mid-1960s, Jay Ferguson joined a band that would become very famous. He teamed up with his friends Randy California and Randy's stepfather Ed Cassidy. They were already in a band called the Red Roosters. With Mark Andes and John Locke, they formed a new group.

At first, they called themselves Spirits Rebellious. This name came from a passage by a writer named Khalil Gibran. But they soon decided the name was too long. So, they shortened it to Spirit. Jay Ferguson was the last person to join the band. He became the lead singer and also played percussion.

Spirit's Music and Film Role

Jay Ferguson shared the singing and songwriting duties with Randy California. He wrote most of the songs on their first album. Spirit started playing at different clubs and concerts in Los Angeles. They often played at famous places like the Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip.

A French film producer named Jacques Demy saw Spirit perform. He decided he wanted them in his next film. This led to the band having a small role in the movie Model Shop. Jay Ferguson even had a short speaking part, playing a character like himself. Spirit also created much of the instrumental music for the film's soundtrack. The band continued to tour and record several albums.

Forming Jo Jo Gunne

In 1971, Jay Ferguson and Mark Andes decided to leave Spirit. They wanted to start their own band. This new band was called Jo Jo Gunne. Jay Ferguson was the main songwriter for Jo Jo Gunne. He wrote almost all of their songs. He was also the only lead singer for the group.

Jo Jo Gunne was one of the first bands to sign with the new Asylum Records label. They had a popular song called "Run Run Run" from their first album in 1972. The band toured all over the United States and Europe for three years. They recorded three more albums: Bite Down Hard (1973), Jumpin' the Gunne (1973), and "So...Where's the Show?" (1974). The group eventually broke up in the mid-1970s. However, Jo Jo Gunne got back together in 2005. They recorded a new album called Big Chain.

Jay Ferguson's Solo Career

After Jo Jo Gunne, Jay Ferguson took a break for about a year and a half. Then, a record producer named Bill Szymczyk asked him to come to his recording studio in Miami. In 1975, Jay played piano and sang on Joe Walsh's live album, You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind. Joe Walsh later joined the famous band Eagles.

Jay Ferguson recorded three studio albums and a special live album for Asylum Records. He had a big hit song with the title track from his second solo album, Thunder Island (1978). This song reached No. 9 on the music charts in the U.S. Another smaller hit was "Shakedown Cruise". After his contract with Asylum ended, he recorded two more solo albums for Capitol Records. In 2025, he released a new solo album called The Faultline on streaming platforms.

Composing Music for Movies and TV

In 1982, after his fifth solo album, Jay Ferguson decided to start writing music for movies and television. He has written music for more than 15 feature films and many TV shows.

His most famous music for TV and movies is the theme song for the NBC-TV version of The Office. This song won him an award in 2007 for Best Score for a Comedy Television Program. In The Office show, he also played guitar in a band called "Scrantonicity."

Jay Ferguson also composed the song "Pictures of You" for the soundtrack to The Terminator. He wrote the entire music score for A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child and Bad Dreams. He also composed music for an episode of Tales from the Crypt, and for the movies Tremors 2: Aftershocks and Tremors 4: The Legend Begins. Jay Ferguson also worked as a composer for the TV show NCIS: Los Angeles.

Music Albums and Songs

Albums

• 1976: All Alone in the End Zone (Asylum Records)
• 1977: Jay Ferguson Live (Asylum) (a special release for promotion)
• 1977: Thunder Island (Asylum)
• 1979: Real Life Ain't This Way (Asylum)
• 1980: Terms and Conditions (Capitol Records)
• 1982: White Noise (Capitol)
• 1989: A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (soundtrack) (Varèse Sarabande)
• 2025: The Faultline

Songs (Singles)

• 1976: "Medicated Goo"
• 1977: "Thunder Island"
• 1978: "Losing Control"
• 1979: "Shakedown Cruise"
• 1979: "Paying Time"
• 1980: "Terms and Conditions"
• 1982: "Tonite (Fallin' for Ya)"