Welcome to the mellow, compelling sounds of Jay DeVaughn.
Jay M. DeVaughn is a native of Goldsboro, NC. Born in 1980, His foundation in music was first nurtured in his home church, St. James Church of Christ in Goldsboro, under the pastorship of Reverend V.H. Johnson. He was very active in the Church Choirs, particularly Voices of Saint James under the direction of Miss Regina McCall and Mr. Leon Cole. He held complete and utter fascination in the complex harmonies of groups like Boyz II Men, Commissioned, Take 6, Xscape, The Clark Sisters, and Mint Condition. He graduated from Goldsboro High School and attended Shaw University, where he studied under the baton of Dr. James Abbington and under Ms. Nikita Shah Pace. This was the turning point in his life, because he, under the intense study of counterpoint and theory, began to composing symphonic pieces, R&B tunes, and Gospel music. He graduated from Shaw University with his Bachelors in Voice. He then, under the advisement of the late Dr. Nathan Carter and after much soul searching, moved to Baltimore, Maryland to attend Graduate School under the wings of mentors Dr. Marilyn A. Thompson, Mr. Vincent Dion Stringer, Dr. Lonieta Thompson Cornwall, Mrs. Sherrell Dameron Bloom, and Dr. Eric A. Conway, all of them concert musicians, conductors, and vocalists in their own right. He earned his Master of Arts in Music from Morgan State University where he was highly active as lead soloist and baritone chorister in the world renowned Morgan State University Choir.
He has composed music for the Shaw University Choir, The Martin Luther King All Childrens Choir in Raleigh, NC (under choirmaster Randy Shepard), Anointed Lights Ministries (under Margie Williams) with their hit single Relying On You, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church Youth Choir, and for The One Love Alliance Gospel Group at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church where he serves as organist under minister of music, Bruce Henderson. He is now Minister of Music of the Historic Payne Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Maryland, where Reverend Dr. A. Qismat Alim serves as pastor. Also, he serves as music director and founder of Shabach Music Ministries.
His highlights were
* conducting the 150 voice MLK Childrens Choir for the noon day service on January 15, 2004
* performing as guest soloist for St. James Male Chorus CD Debut
* performing an original composition with a select group from the MLK choir for the Evening Celebration (with over 2500 people in attendance)
* performing as soloist for the Shaw University Founders Day Convocation where the O Jays were in attendance. Performed Odell Hobbs "I Got A Robe"
*Performed as soloist under the baton of Drs. Nathan M. Carter, Roland Carter, James Abbington, and Eric Conway.
*Performed as chorister in Morgan State University Choir and Shaw University Choir onstage with such greats as Jennifer Holliday, Melba Moore, Regina Belle, Stephanie Mills, Bill Cosby, Richard Smallwood, Shirley Caesar, and Ray Charles.
*Amateur performer and winner of the Showtime at the Apollo on tour at the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference in the Landmark Theater in Richmond Virginia.
*Amateur performer at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY.
*Performed as soloist and chorister with the Broadway cast of Lion King in a Benefit Concert called Pride and Praise.
*Performer for the U.S. Marine Corps Band (Catfish Row)
* Guest Soloist for Jeff Jacobs live recording at Bethel AME Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
*Singing solo in "Battle Hymn of The Republic" for the tribal chiefs and kings during the Historic Morgan State University Choir Tour of the Country of Ghana, Africa in August 3-13, 2007.
*Performer in an opera at Morgan State University, playing the conniving, scheming, charming title role, "Gianni Schicchi"
He is available for bookings as guest recording artist, classical baritone, chorister, back-up singer, songwriter, actor, playwright, conference choir director, and musician.
I play every Sunday at Second Baptist Church in San Antonio.
I am influenced by the music of The Clark Sisters, Donald Lawrence, Richard Smallwood, Tonex, Shirley Caesar, Bette Midler, and others.
Korg Triton LE
Korg M50
Yamaha MO8
