Jay Aston

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Jay Aston
Jay Aston on stage in 1983
Background information
Born	May 4, 1961 (1961-05-04) (age 47) London England
Genre(s)	pop music
Occupation(s)	Singer, Dancer
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Years active	1981–present
Website	www.jay-aston.co.uk/

Jay Aston (born 4 May 1961, London) is a singer who was formerly with the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. She was the youngest member of the group's original line-up.^[1]

1 Background
2 Bucks Fizz
3 After Bucks Fizz
4 Acting
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Background

Aston came from a theatrical family. Her father was a comedian, her mother a former dancer before she became her husband's straight man. They also performed as acrobats. They lived at hucknall, Notts between 1970 and 1972, while they were touring, living on wighay road

Her brother, Lance, had performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980 with the band Prima Donna .^[1]

Aston herself trained as a dancer, singer and actress at the Italia Conti School of Speech and Drama and performed on stage many times in her teens mainly as a dancer. ^[2]

[edit] Bucks Fizz

Aston was one of the four original members of Bucks Fizz when they were formed in 1981 to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest that year. They won with "Making Your Mind Up" and the song went to No.1 in many countries, including the United Kingdom.

The group went on to become one of the top selling groups of the 1980s and scored many hit single and albums over the next few years, including two more British No.1s; "The Land Of Make Believe" and "My Camera Never Lies". In 1984 Bucks Fizz were involved in a coach accident in which Aston, along with the other members of the group were injured.^[3]

By this time, tensions within the group had risen to the point that Aston was eager to leave the group, but was still under contract. However, the following year, she left the group in acrimonious circumstances.^[3] Aston became the subject of many newspaper headlines on her sudden departure where it emerged that she had been having an affair with the group's producer, Andy Hill, who was also the husband of Bucks Fizz creator, Nicola Martin.

The group's management company took Aston to court and successfully sued her under the terms of her contract. The case took two years to settle and left Aston on the brink of financial ruin and unable to pursue a solo career.

[edit] After Bucks Fizz

Close to bankruptcy, Aston rebuilt her life, living in a small bedsit in Streatham, and living with her new partner and child. She set up a performing arts school in her name "Jay Aston School of Performing arts" where she taught youths, but after a few years the school was closed for financial and location reasons.

In 2002 she was involved in a cover band called Monster Boogie,^[1] and she also appeared in an episode of Never Mind the Buzzcocks as one of the mystery guests in the Identity Parade round in the show.^[1]

In 2003 Aston released an album, Alive And Well with thirteen tracks all of which she co-wrote with her husband, David Colquhoun.^[4]

In 2005 the glory years of Bucks Fizz, mainly focussing on Aston, were portrayed in a drag lip-synch show, Night Of A Thousand Jay Astons at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe after its debut in London. Aston was played by one female and three male performers.^[5] The life of Aston was told through an outrageous parody, and was described in review as "hilariously over the top".^[6]^[3] The show has also been staged at other venues including the Comedy Theatre in Dublin in May 2006^[7] and the Soho Theatre in London in summer 2007.^[8]^[9]

Another solo album, Lamb or Lizard was released in July 2006 through her website, which featured recordings from before and after her work with Bucks Fizz.^[10]

In March 2007, she appeared in the Comic Relief video "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" a comic cover version of The Proclaimers song, dancing with the fellow original members of Bucks Fizz.^[11] This was the first time Aston had met with the group since 1985.

A new Bucks Fizz CD with a bonus DVD, The Very Best of Bucks Fizz was released on 14 May, 2007. Aston appeared alone on the National Lottery to promote the album.

[edit] Acting

Before Bucks Fizz, Aston had ambitions to become an actress, but her career in this field encompassed only minor roles in To the Manor Born and Citizen Smith.