DESCRIPTION:
A natural born performer, Jay Douglas first took to the stage over 40 years ago as a youth in his hometown of Montego Bay, Jamaica. His first real break came through one of the wildly popular talent contests held by Vere Johns, whom author Lloyd Bradley, in his book This is Reggae Music, described as "the most influential man in Jamaican music in the second half of the 1950s." Douglas was runner-up in the competition and swiftly caught the attention of many prominent ears in the emerging reggae landscape.

The young Douglas immediately became a contributing voice to the rising styles and rhythms of Jamaica's early reggae movement, and quickly learned the tools of the trade by performing on the same stage with Jamaican reggae legends such as Desmond Dekker, Alton Ellis, Jimmy James, Higgs and Wilson, Millie Small, Jimmy Cliff, Derrick Morgan, and many others.

In 1963, Douglas immigrated with his family to Toronto, ON, and soon became an architect and leader in the midst of Toronto's inexhaustible and diverse music scenes, as one of the many artists fresh to Canada from Jamaica. With his limitless vocal ability, nimble capacity across musical styles and captivating stage presence, it wasn't long before Douglas was asked to front the seminal Toronto R&B outfit, The Cougars. From the late '60s through early '70s, Douglas and The Cougars became a prominent fixture of Toronto's music panorama, along with the revered artists Jackie Mittoo and Wayne McGhie, an era documented in the recent Jamaica to Toronto album compiled by Light in the Attic Records in Seattle, WA (full details below).

Douglas has performed his wide ranging repertoire of music for audiences around the world, including parts of Europe and Asia, at the prestigious 2010 Havana International Jazz Festival in Cuba. He has been a featured performer at numerous night clubs and resorts, and major chains such as the Sheraton, Hilton, Ramada, and Holiday Inn, and more specifically, the Sheraton Hong Kong and The Matsuri in Japan. He has performed at Roy Thompson Hall and has been a headliner at the Canadian National Exhibition.

Douglas' name is synonymous with great entertainment as a long-featured vocalist on many Caribbean and Mediterranean cruise ships.

His recordings have been released worldwide and include numerous hits singles in Canada. His CDs You Are My Lady, Jay Douglas and the All Stars Live in Toronto, Retro Blue, A Touch of Magic, Whirl Stimulation, and now Lover's Paradise which features his hit song, "Hallelujah," have all received rave reviews. His CD release, A Touch of Magic, which includes performances from international reggae stars, Sly & Robbie, remains a hit with Canadian and U.S. listeners. He has appeared on many network television programs in Canada and the U.S. including "It's Happening", "Music at Midnight", "Breakfast Television", and "Canada AM". He has also acted in several motion pictures, including a role in Heaven Before I Die, starring Omar Sharif.


A talented songwriter, having penned tunes for many artists over the years, Douglas has shared the stage with a veritable Who's Who of major stars, including R&B legends Fats Domino, Joe Tex, Percy Sledge, Freda Payne, Dorothy Moore, Cissy Houston, bluesman Roscoe Gordon, The Manhattans, Peaches & Herb, reggae legends Freddie McGregor, Burning Spear, Toots and the Maytals, Sly & Robbie, Ziggy Marley, reggae jazz guitarist Ernest Ranglin, The Blues Busters, calypso king The Mighty Sparrow, Arthur Conley, Edwin Starr, Millie Jackson, Ollie and the Nightingales, Larry Marshal, The Drifters, Pee-Wee Ellis (James Brown's musical director). He is also good friends with comedian Don Harron (alias Charlie Farquarson) and the world renowned actor Jim Carrey.

The Jamaica to Toronto Project, featuring Jay Douglas
The Jamaica to Toronto project was the brainchild of Light in the Attic Records (LITA) based in Seattle, WA, an innovative label who have a history of finding and reissuing long-lost recordings from artists ranging from Kris Kristofferson to Jackie Mittoo to Serge Gainsbourg. LITA decided to locate some nostalgic reggae music from the likes of Jamaican-born Wayne McGhie, a singer-songwriter who effortlessly blends the sounds of reggae, soul, and R&B, and creating a CD on memorable Jamaican oldies. After having difficulty locating the great McGhie, LITA turned to Jay Douglas for help. It was Jay who found Wayne, and was also able to find other long forgotten artists like Bob & Wisdom, The Mighty Pope, Lloyd Delpratt, some members of the Sheiks band, and others. Jay was commissioned to put this show together, perform and manage the performances. This magnificent piece of work was released through a massive show on Toronto's prestigious Harbourfront Centre and has since been seen in Montreal and Vancouver.

Website www.jaydouglas.ca