Biography of Jacob Kaye

For more than 3 decades, Jacob Kaye has exhibited a passion for music and particularly drumming.

"...in traveling over 40,000 miles across our nation (U.S.), performing before 1.8 million people with appearances on coast-to-coast television...successful performances at 180 diversified events to include music clinics and jazz festivals...reflected great credit up himself and the U.S. Marine Corps..." (excerpt from one year's performances...while with US Marine Corps ) read more testimonials

Born in Wilmington, Delaware, January 28, 1955 his mother and father loved music and played the piano as a hobby, Jacob started playing drums around the age of 5. While in high school Jacob received recognition for performances in his high school's jazz band. He was involved with numerous local groups, Hal Schiff (notable tenor player, and leader of American Youth Jazz Orchestra), doing "gigs" for the DuPont family, while studying with Wilmington-area teacher Dick Kenny.

circa 1969

After High School, Jacob began to work professionally with jazz groups and personalities, like, Boise Lowery (Clifford Brown's 1st music teacher) and working with former players from "Philly" Jo Jones, Gary Burton, Hubert Laws, Buddy Rich bands.

At 18 years of age, he did his first Jazz Festival. Pieces of a Dream (Phila.) were also on the "bill". Again, working with side-men from Woody Herman and Hubert Laws (CTI recording artist). Jacob started to receive recognition from established musicians... In 1976, worked briefly with Wilmington Symphony, on the staff at Wilminton School of Music, and recipient of an education grant, based on performance for music studies at the University of the Arts, (Stanley Clarke, alumnae) in Philadelphia. At the same time he did work with Johnny Neel (formerly Allman Bros. Band, Grammy nominated keyboard player)

Jacob as U.S. Marine Corps musician, performing Music Clinics, Jazz Festivals, USO shows and Public Relation gigs.

Through the 1980's, after relocating to the West Coast, Jacob was contracted, as a musician, with the US Marine Corps. He did USO Shows and touring across the U.S., parts of Europe and Japan ... regularly being called upon for featured solo-spots and high profile work. Running into Bill Pfeiffer, former member of Maynard Ferguson's band. The band did several television spots on Good Morning America, a Pasadena, California, 1984 Olympics television special with celebrities Robin Williams and George Burns, and many more ...

That era, "The Hollywood Era", found him doing gigs with Clint Eastwood, Bob Hope, Gregory Peck, Caesar Romero, to name a few. in attendance. Even, doing a gig in Nashville with Lee Greenwood (Top 40's single) and appeared in the Disney movie, as a musician-extra, Disney movie "Spies", starring Cloris Leachman, filmed in North Carolina. The Jazz Big Band opened for B.B. King in Tampa, Florida for the Jazz Festival. In 1985, found Jacob doing ensemble and solo work at the All Eastern Band & Instrumental Clinic, Norfolk and the Mid-West Music Educators' Clinic, Chicago.

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To date, Jacob has performed in U.S. Canada, Netherlands, Japan and, yes, Iceland alongwith more cities than most can recall. And there's no sign of slowing down. Does session work recording, has his own band, free-lance work, member of the Vic Firth "Education Team", and He also accepts private students - and does drum cllinics.

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