Jazzy Jay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jazzy Jay
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Jazzy Jay performing at the NAMM Show in 2009.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Byas |
| Also known as |
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| Born | November 18, 1961 Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Origin | The Bronx, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Labels | Strong City |
| Associated acts | Afrika Bambaataa, Universal Zulu Nation, Kool DJ Red Alert, Jazzy Five, Afrika Islam |
John Byas (born November 18, 1961), known to the world as DJ Jazzy Jay, is a famous American DJ and music producer. He is considered one of the pioneers of hip hop music and the art of turntablism, which is using record players as musical instruments.
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A Hip Hop Pioneer
Jazzy Jay was born in South Carolina to a Gullah family, a unique African American culture. When he was young, his family moved to The Bronx in New York City. This was where hip hop culture was just beginning, and Jay jumped right in at the age of 13.
Joining the Zulu Nation
Jazzy Jay became an early member of the Universal Zulu Nation, a group of artists and community leaders started by the legendary Afrika Bambaataa. Bambaataa and Jay's older cousin, Kool DJ Red Alert, taught him how to be a DJ. He was also part of a group called the Jazzy Five, and they recorded the famous song "Jazzy Sensation."
At first, Jazzy Jay performed at outdoor street parties. By the 1980s, he was DJing in popular New York clubs. He even played himself as a DJ in the classic 1984 hip hop movie Beat Street. He and another DJ, Afrika Islam, were known for performing some of the first team routines, where two DJs would mix and scratch records together.
The Start of Def Jam Records
Around 1984, Jazzy Jay played a huge role in creating one of the most important record labels in music history: Def Jam Recordings. He met a young producer named Rick Rubin and helped him get the label started.
The very first official song released by Def Jam was "It's Yours," a track by T La Rock and Jazzy Jay. Jay then introduced Rick Rubin to Russell Simmons. Together, Rubin and Simmons became a powerhouse team in the world of hip hop.
In 1985, Jazzy Jay released his own record on the label. He also helped record the album Planet Rock - The Album, which was a huge success and earned a gold certification for selling over 500,000 copies.
A Talented Producer
Jazzy Jay was also a skilled music producer. He opened his own studio in the Bronx, where he helped create early recordings for many famous artists, including Diamond D, Fat Joe, Brand Nubian, and A Tribe Called Quest. He also started his own record label called Strong City Records.
Later Career and Legacy
Jazzy Jay's influence continues to be celebrated. In 2001, he was featured in the documentary film Scratch, which is all about the art of turntablism. In the movie, he showed off his amazing collection of vinyl records, which he said included over 300,000 LPs.
Honors and Recognition
In 2000, Jazzy Jay was honored for his skills by being added to the Technics/DMC DJ Hall of Fame. He has also been interviewed in other documentaries about hip hop history, like 5 Sides of a Coin.
He was featured on the 2004 song "Rock And Roll (Could Never Hip Hop Like This) Part 2" by Handsome Boy Modeling School, where he talked about his life and the history of rap music. That same year, he narrated a walking tour of The Bronx about hip hop that won an Audie Award for Best Original Work.
Jazzy Jay and his wife have three children. His son, Matthew Byas, is a musician in the band Phony Ppl. His daughter, Jazmine, graduated from the famous Eastman School of Music and is a professional classical oboist.
