Miles Jaye

Miles Jaye Davis, known professionally as Miles Jaye, is an American R&B and jazz singer, violinist, songwriter, and record producer. He had several hits on the US R&B chart in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the biggest of which was "Let's Start Love Over" in 1987.

Life and career

He was born in Brooklyn, New York City,^[1] and studied music theory and classical violin for more than a decade.^[2] He also learned keyboards and bass while in the US Air Force, and launched his singing career while in an Air Force band.^[3] He played with guitarist Eric Gale and singers Phyllis Hyman and Jon Lucien before joining Village People in the early 1980s.^[3] He stayed with the band for two years before launching a solo career and signing to Teddy Pendergrass' production company. He released an album, Miles, on Island Records, and the song "Let's Start Love Over," written by Michael Claxton, was released as a single and rose to # 5 on the Billboard R&B chart in late 1987. Its follow-up, "I've Been a Fool For You" was also a top ten R&B hit. Jaye also contributed, as musician, songwriter and co-producer, to Pendergrass' hit 1988 album, Joy.^[3]

Jaye continued to have hits on the R&B chart until 1991, but failed to match his initial success. He also released two further albums on Island, Irresistible (1989) and Strong (1991), before forming his own company, Black Tree Records, on which he released a string of increasingly jazz-influenced albums.^[4] He has also worked with leading jazz musicians including George Duke, Roy Ayers, Grover Washington, Jr. and Branford Marsalis.^[2]

Jaye's daughter, Asia appeared as the little girl in the "Let's Start Love Over" music video.^[5]

Discography

Chart singles

Albums

• Miles (1987)
• Irresistible (1989)
• Strong (1991)
• Odyssey (1998)
• Celebrate (1999)
• Humanity (2003)
• Divine Ascension (2003)
• Romantic Storm (2004)
• Attenergy (2011)

References