Chris Jay

Chris Jay

Chris Jay is a musician, songwriter, producer, writer and actor best known as the frontman and founder of the rock band, Army of Freshmen.

Background/Army of Freshmen

Chris Jay was born Chris Jurewicz in Cape May, New Jersey. He attended high school at Lower Cape May Regional where his parents were both music teachers. They also own a music store, Mr. J’s Music Shop in North Cape May, New Jersey which is attached to Jay’s childhood home. Upon graduation moved by himself to Ventura, California where he formed the band, Army of Freshmen in 1997. Army of Freshmen are still active and have played over 1,000 shows in 43 states and 11 countries and released 4 full length albums. Jay himself has written and or co written over 500 songs.

Journalism

Jay wrote a weekly music column in the Ventura County Reporter from 1999 to 2001. He’s interviewed hundreds of artists and still writes frequently for the paper. His recent work can be found archived at the paper’s website. He was sued by Mike Love of the Beach Boys for 10 million dollars over an article Jay wrote about the band’s current line up. Many Army of Freshmen fans and Beach Boy fans have no idea the lawsuit existed and the lawsuit was settled out of court prior to any trial or press coverage.

Production

Jay, along with fellow Army of Freshmen member, Aaron Goldberg, has produced several albums and demos for artists in multiple genres. Credits include artists such as Exit 4, Lost, Sarah Ashleigh (who Jay discovered when he was a guest judge at a talent contest in Jew Jersey), Michelle Dawn Mooney (an anchor for NBC 40 in Atlantic City) and Delaney Gibson.

Acting

In 2009 Jay was a featured extra in the horror film, The Telling. Jay along with other AOF members, Aaron Goldberg and Kai Dodson can be seen multiple times in the movie’s opening sequence which was filmed at the Playboy Mansion and stars Holly Madison of the Girls Next Door.

Jay’s work on the Telling led to his being cast in the upcoming comedy, Beer Pong playing the role of Frat Boy. The film is set for a 2010 release will be Jay’s first speaking role in a film.

Other

Jay has written the treatment for all 3 of Army of Freshmen’s videos as well Bowling For Soup’s High School Never Ends which Jay makes a cameo in along with the rest of Army of Freshmen.

Jay along with fellow Army of Freshmen member, Aaron Goldberg, has created and written the pilot for an animated cartoon show, Spank Finatra: Chairman of the Bored.

Jay’s lyrics to the Army of Freshmen song, “Road Less Traveled” is quoted in the book, High School Confidential by Jeremy Iverson.

Jay contributed guest vocals to the Chicago band, Plunket’s song “Baby Steps” which was the first single and video off their debut record, All We’ve Got Is This.

Jay (as Chris Jurewicz) is thanked in the liner notes to 2 Live Crew’s infamous 1989 release As Nasty As They Wanna Be. Jay was a rap music fan in elementary school and had written a fan letter to the group prior to the their success.