Jaymz Bee

Jaymz Bee is a Canadian musician, writer EmCee and radio personality.

Personal life

Jaymz was born and raised in North Bay, Ontario. He is a graduate of Inglenook Community High School.^[1]

Early career

Jaymz Bee was the lead singer for the alternative rock band Look People from 1985 to 1994.^[2] When Look People became the house band for Friday Night with Ralph Benmergui in 1992, Bee became the show's musical director. The band also backed up comedians such as Judy Tenuta, Harland Williams, Mark DeCarlo and Jim Carrey, performed on two Lollapalooza tours and performed extensively in Europe for several years. Following the end of the show, the band broke up and Bee began recording lounge music albums as Jaymz Bee and the Royal Jelly Orchestra.

Jaymz Bee was also the lead singer of the Bee People, (prior to his work with Look People, The Royal Jelly Orchestra and various projects) and was a founder of the Al Waxman Fan Club. The Fan Club began in the 1980s following the heyday of the King of Kensington television show. Bee, his associates Clay Tyson (son of Ian and Sylvia), Bazl Salazar, Bruce J. Scott and artist Max MacDonald would host parties and write songs in honour of Waxman. In 1988 Jaymz also appeared on the Carlos Perón album Impersonator II.

In 1985, Jaymz met a Swiss band called Chinook, who had a change of plan after arriving in Toronto and discovering they had a lot of hard rock competition. They auditioned for singers and with over forty responses, decided Jaymz Bee was best suited for the band's sound. Within a few weeks Look People was born, and took off to play Switzerland summer festivals with one important addition: a man who would become Bee's best friend and longtime collaborator, drummer Great Bob Scott. The band toured back and forth between Europe and North America many times in their nine year run. They released two EPs, three albums, one single, and several cassettes. They made a series of music videos; some shot on film with countless extras and others with a low to no budget. The video for the song "Five" received high rotation on Much Music in 1992 and made their top ten list. It was made for a mere $500...shot edited and directed by Bee.

On April 13, 1994 the band played their final two shows. A set at Club Lingerie in L.A. followed by a bizarre performance (following a band made up of porn stars) at The Palomino in North Hollywood. They parted amicably and rumours of a reunion live to this day.

Jaymz Bee returned home to Toronto and began working on a jazz (lounge) recording with childhood friend and multi-instrumentalist, Jono Grant. After recording a three song demo they were offered a gig by Molly Johnson to perform at Ontario Place for her first nation-wide AIDS benefit called "Kumbaya". The concert was broadcast coast to coast on Much Music. About this time, Jaymz and an artist ally, Melleny Melody, formed an independent label called "Nepotism Records" and the first RJO debut CD was recorded. From there Jaymz was offered a position with BMG Music Canada, running a boutique label called "Leisure Lab". He released four CDs, three for his own band (featuring a plethora of guest vocalists) and one for Calgary crooner Tim Tamashiro. The next Indie Label was the short lived "Leisure Disc" which went in to partnership with the ill-fated Songcore.

Recent career

In 1997, he published the book Cocktail Parties for Dummies, and began hosting radio shows on Toronto's CFRB and CFMJ.

In 2002, he released a new album, produced by Dave Howard, Sub Urban by Jaymz Bee and the Deep Lounge Coalition and followed that with another RJO Release entitled "Seriously Happy" for Wychwood Productions. His last recording with the RJO was "Toronto Launch Pad", recorded in 2006 for his own label, Timely Manor.

In 2004 he began hosting radio programs on CJRT. In 2005 Jaymz produced a concert at the request of Ross Porter (President and CEO), to raise money for the not-for-profit radio station and "Jazz Lives", a concert featuring dozens of jazz greats at Convocation Hall, was the result. It has become an annual event in early May each year and all 1,600 tickets are sold every time. Bee also created and hosted a tour of Toronto clubs called "The Jazz Safari" which has become the most popular incentive in the history of the station. Jaymz takes a couple dozen donors to five jazz venues in Toronto about 40 nights per year and also offers international excursions to jazz capitals such as New York, Havana, New Orleans, San Franscisco and Chicago.

While Jaymz is currently working at JAZZ.FM91 in Toronto, he also runs a PR firm called Bullhorn; writes freelance for various papers and magazines.

Currently, Jaymz is busy with his latest project; a pop group called Bonzai Suzuki which features Dave Howard, Sahra Featherstone, Great Bob Scott, Bubz Magoo, Geegee, Legs Mahoney and BebopB. Their self-titled debut was released in the summer of 2011 and many videos can be found on YouTube. This is the first recording of completely original music Bee has made in over ten years. Bonzai Suzuki continue to record and make music videos. Their live appearances are rare.

External links

• Jaymz Bee official website

References

1. ↑ "Jaymzbee.com: Music: Look People (1985-1994)". East End Designs Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2011. 
2. ↑ Jaymz Bee at All About Jazz