Jay Ferguson (American musician)
| Jay Ferguson | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | John Arden Ferguson |
| Born |
May 10, 1947 Burbank, California, United States |
| Genres | Rock, pop rock, soft rock |
| Instruments | Vocals, keyboards, percussion |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Labels | Asylum Records |
| Associated acts | Spirit, Jo Jo Gunne, Joe Walsh |
Jay Ferguson (born John Arden Ferguson; May 10, 1947) is an American rock/pop musician, known for his work with Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne, and his 1978 solo hit "Thunder Island". His later career has been as a composer of music for television programs and films.
Born in Burbank, California in the San Fernando Valley, Ferguson grew up in the Van Nuys and Canoga Park sections of Los Angeles. At 12 years old, Ferguson's parents encouraged his musical abilities with classical piano lessons. When he was 16, Ferguson's interest transferred to the banjo. Along with his brother Tom, an accomplished fiddle player, he formed a bluegrass group called The Oat Hill Stump Straddlers including Michael Fondiler and Steve Fondiler. Ferguson was also a member of local garage bands, Western Union and The Red Roosters.
He also held part-time jobs at different points as a theater usher and an architect's assistant for his father John Ferguson, and taught piano in a music store and studied at UCLA after high school.
Spirit was founded in the mid-1960s. Many musicians of the time cited The Beatles and their music as an influence, and Ferguson was no exception. Reuniting with longtime musician friends Randy California and California's stepfather Ed Cassidy, Ferguson joined with them to form a jazz influenced rock group that was originally called Spirits Rebellious, after a Khalil Gibran passage. With the general consensus that the moniker was too long, they later shortened the name to Spirit. Ferguson was the last member to actually join the band and found himself in the position of lead vocalist and percussionist.
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