Chris Jay is a musician, songwriter, screenwriter, producer, actor, journalist and podcaster best known as the frontman and founder of the rock band

Army of Freshmen Army of Freshmen is an American rock band formed in Ventura, California in 1997. They have performed over 1,500 shows in 13 countries and 43 US states. The band have released three albums and four singles since their first release in 2001. They ...

and for co-writing and acting in the comedy film '' The Bet''.

Background/Army of Freshmen

Chris Jay was born Chris Jurewicz in

Cape May, New Jersey Cape May is a city located at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations, and part of ...

. He attended high school at Lower Cape May Regional where his parents were both music teachers. They also owned and operated a small music store, Mr. J's Music Shop in the

North Cape May North Cape May is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Lower Township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 United States Cen ...

section of

Lower Township, New Jersey Lower Township is a township in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Ocean City metropolitan statistical area, which covers the entire county for statistical purposes. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the township's ...

which was connected to Jay's childhood home. He formed his first band, Yclept, while still in high school and performed throughout South Jersey including opening for one of his heroes,

Arlo Guthrie Arlo Davy Guthrie (born July 10, 1947) is an American folk singer-songwriter. He is known for singing songs of protest against social injustice, and storytelling while performing songs, following the tradition of his father, Woody Guthrie. Gu ...

, a show which the 16-year-old Jay booked and promoted himself. Upon graduation he moved by himself to

Ventura, California Ventura, officially named San Buenaventura ( Spanish for " Saint Bonaventure"), is a city on the Southern Coast of California and the county seat of Ventura County. The population was 110,763 at the 2020 census. Ventura is a popular tourist ...

where he formed the band,

in 1997. Army of Freshmen are still active and have played over 1,500 shows in 43 states and 11 countries and released 5 full-length albums. Jay himself has been involved in the writing, producing and recording of over 1,500 songs, with several of those appearing in films and on television.

Screenwriting

Chris Jay and fellow Army of Freshmen member Aaron Goldberg wrote the screenplay for the full-length comedy film ''The Bet'', which was released on July 26, 2016. Jay and Goldberg co-produced the film under their production company, Goldy Jay Productions.

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 Hugh Hefner's then-girlfriends

Holly Madison Holly Madison (born Holly Sue Cullen; December 23, 1979) is an American television personality, best known as a former girlfriend of Hugh Hefner and for her appearance in the reality television show '' The Girls Next Door''. She also starred in ...

and

Bridget Marquardt Bridget Marquardt (born September 25, 1974) is an American television personality and model, known for her role in the reality TV series ''The Girls Next Door'', which depicted her life as one of ''Playboy'' founder Hugh Hefner's girlfriends. A ...

The Girls Next Door ''The Girls Next Door'' (also known as ''The Girls of the Playboy Mansion'') is a reality television series which focuses on the lives of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends who live with him at the Playboy Mansion. The series was created by executive pr ...

. Jay's work on ''The Telling'' led to his being cast in the comedy ''Beer Pong Saved My Life'' playing the role of “Frat Boy.” In addition to the acting role, he co wrote the movie's theme song. Jay appears as an extra in the Las Vegas crowd sequence of the final fight in the sixth ''Rocky'' film,

Rocky Balboa Robert "Rocky" Balboa (also known by his ring name The Italian Stallion), is a fictional title character and the protagonist of the ''Rocky'' film series. The character was created by Sylvester Stallone, who has also portrayed him in all eight ...

. Jay is involved in the boxing industry, competing as an amateur as well as training and managing professional fighters, handling publicity for promotional companies and providing on camera commentary for boxing events.

Journalism

Jay has been a freelance writer, primarily covering music and sports, for the Ventura-based weekly newspaper, The VC Reporter since 1999. He's interviewed hundreds of artists and his more recent work can be found archived at the paper's website.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jay, Chris Year of birth missing (living people) Living people People from Cape May, New Jersey People from Lower Township, New Jersey American rock singers Guitarists from New Jersey American male guitarists