Jay & the Techniques was an inter-racial pop group, which was formed in Allentown, Pennsylvania during the mid 1960s. A group whose sound and songs were more pop than soul, Jay & the Techniques earned some points for the playful, joyous "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie," which was their lone Top 10 R&B and pop hit in 1967 on Smash.[1]
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The band was best known for its Top 10 debut single, "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie", which was released in 1967 and reached #6 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2] The track was arranged by Joe Renzetti, and written by Maurice Irby, Jr. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[3] Although this song served as the band's primary hit, the group also captured various chart positions with "Keep the Ball Rolling" (#14) and "Strawberry Shortcake". "Keep the Ball Rolling" also notched up sales in excess of a million copies, to secure a second gold disc for this group.[3] However, its position on the 1960s pop charts declined after "Baby Make Your Own Sweet Music" was released. Jay & the Techniques made their final effort with its R&B hit, "Number Onderful", but after that, the group disbanded.
In 1996, Mercury Records released a compilation album of the band's hits entitled The Best of Jay & the Techniques.
Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson and Melba Moore often served as backing vocalists.