Cara Mia Jay & The American Stereo Reaction

[@olgamaria2602]

Now, THAT IS A TRUE SINGER!!! Amazing and powerful voice, no gimmicks, no studio touching, just plain talent. May he rest in peace. 😊

[@vonakenyon7981]

1965-I was 17 driving a 63 mustang on the Pacific Coast HWY towards Malibu with the top down, hair flying in the wind, sunny and warm, radio blasting then this song played for the first time-effing unforgettable.

[@stevethompson6772]

Hate to rain on your parade, but the Mustang did not come out in 63. The Mustang was introduced to the press on April 14, 1964, and went for sale to the public on April 17, 1964. Perhaps you are remembering the incorrect year for your Mustang ride.

[@markscutti9682]

Jay Black! One of the best voices.....ever!!!!!

[@brownie1341]

Have always loved this song. What a set of pipes! You won't hear anyone trying to cover this song - because they can't.

[@Natasha-ux2nl]

Absolutely correct!!

[@carollandrum9223]

I was 7 at this time. Come A Little Bit Closer and This Magic Moment are a couple of other good ones by Jay and The Americans.

[@melanieviselli9706]

I totally agree with you on both of these songs.

[@stephenmaniloff8493]

What’s the deal with your nose you idiot... there’s nobody gonna hold a candle to Jay black today

[@bar0nv0nstrubel57]

AH YES! Was really hoping you'd do this one. Jay Black's voice is truly in a league of its own. Not many people with that kind of talent

[@leofitzpatrick4137]

Jay had a powerfully wonderful voice. I hope he is singing with the angels now.

[@FOXYPEACH2]

RIP Jay Black. Bravo!! The Voice will live on!!! A legend!!

[@donclark4685]

Jay could sing just as well in his eighties. Look it up.

[@p.j.4738]

...and in 2001 concert...still had it!

[@Sandy-pg9ew]

Jay Black was gifted with a beautiful voice.

[@cindyvredenburg4983]

The very first concert I went to was in Madison Square Garden with Jay and the Americans, 4 Seasons, 4 Tops and many more...will NEVER forget it...thank you!

[@jeffclark7888]

Outstanding!

[@sorrystaunton]

Back in my day you needed talent to sing....not so much today.

[@trishaurvan9439]

One hell of a falsetto! Get it Jay!

[@StalkerMomRosie]

I was 13 when this song came out. Jay Black, the lead singer was known as "The Voice." The band had numerous hits including "Cara Mia", "Come a Little Bit Closer", and "This Magic Moment". Jay had a 6 octave voice nearly reaching the 7th octave. He is now the current holder of the record for widest vocal range.

[@MRM-Red]

My dad said it was a song he bought on a 45 record, this came out 3 years before he met my Mom. But he just loved his voice, actually he said he saw a PBS show other night had him and other oldies/ doo wop singers on it. Dad said that Jay Black STILL sounded awesome to this day. My dad raised me on this music. When I was in High School, late 80s, i come driving in school jamming out to the oldies channel...i didnt care then if ppl thought i was dorky..lol...nothings changed, im still jamming out to it and I'm still dorky..lol. Something about the music then had soul, feelings. Thank you for doing his and mine request, sure he have more for me send you..lol

[@tommyoz777]

Wendy, I grew up in the early 80's listening to this kind of music too. Everyone around me was into Disco but I was doo wopping in my high school years. I loved to sing this song and My Prayer - Platters was another one I would sing because of those long notes. Crying by Roy Orbison was another one. I saw that PBS show as well and Jay Black was terrific. I would get along with your dad and you as well. Lol

[@MRM-Red]

@@tommyoz777 yes you would...i love doo wop too...its the best

[@Lisarubyflow]

Wendy-Dawn Pritchard I know completely what you mean! I would have been 3 when this was recorded. As far as I know, I didn’t hear it again until the mid 1980s. Still , (!) when I heard it then it was if I just “ knew” it! At the time I connected the very deep emotional experience that I was having to it a feeling I got from an old boyfriend that kept popping into my life (& still does, though were both pushing 60 !!) I wonder though if is an unconscious memory from my (now deceased ) father? I can still hear him singing “put your head on my shoulder” to me and knew it was “0ur song”. But I wonder if Cara Mia was additionally as I am so MOVED EVERY TIME I hear this song. This song really is my all time favorite!!!!

[@tommyoz777]

@@MRM-Red Some people just don't like it and I don't know why. It's part of rock and roll musical history.

[@MRM-Red]

@@tommyoz777 i dont understand that myself...i love that era

[@rosemariekury9186]

Loved this song. It was out in 65 the year I got married. Thanks for this video. Come a little bit Closer is also good.

[@rosemary702001]

They also sang Only in America circa 1964. Huge hit where I lived. It’s a good listen too.

[@kathleen3177]

love his voice-- and he still has a great voice

[@timcarr6401]

No, sad to say. He gave it up. He lost his incredible voice. It had to happen eventually.

[@joeysnburg4254]

JAy had awesome range in his voice! You're un American if you don't luv this song!

[@machteldhuylebroeck6908]

I’m from Belgium and jay tears me up every time

[@dianefiske-foy4717]

I was 12 when this song came out and it's always been my favorite of Jay and the Americans' songs.

[@leeann3920]

I was one when this came out but my older sisters listened to Jay and The Americans and I grew up with the best music. It was a great time. "Come a Little Bit Closer" is my favorite from them. Early sixties still had a bit of the 50s' doo-wop sound--true enough.

[@pennyenicks7905]

I'm having so much fun with all these old songs. I can't help singing along. If it's a 60's song, I know it.

[@timcarr6401]

Finally, you kinda' did one of my repeated requests. I had wanted you to do his performance of that song years later when he was 74. He had not lost a beat. His voice was as strong as ever. As he was sustaining a note for a long time he looked at his wrist watch to note the impressive feat. The performance was on Public Television. It's more remarkable because of his advanced age and the picture quality was much better than the early clip from 1965.

[@MRM-Red]

Yes, i want see it myself, my dad said he still awesome

[@mobrules29]

I just saw that on a recent PBS rebroadcast, and it was stunning - it gave me goosebumps.

[@maryannmcrae6736]

Jay can sing still this is his 🎵 What A Voice! This is REAL MUSIC 🎶 🙌 👌 ❤ Beautiful MEMORIES 🎵

[@jamesskrivanek8856]

Jay Black had an amazing voice. I would have loved to have heard Jay Black and Roy Orbison singing a song together.

[@stolenjunk]

They sound a lot a like

[@LittleWing1985]

They were also good friends as well.

[@LittleWing1985]

@@stolenjunk I've always thought that too and have mistaken one another's songs with the other.

[@billysmith8784]

I saw him at a Dover Downs concert and he said him and Roy were best friends both told each other that either one could sing each other songs they didn't want any royalties I think both of them knew how good they really were and the song would come out beautiful each one knew that the other one wasn't going to screw up the song!! How many artists do you know today would do that without a royalty???

[@bobwallace9814]

The singer New Yorker Jay Black was the singer for the Mafia. He was a Gotti friend who sung at his daughter's wedding. He also was in attendance at all the Gotti trials as noted by the FBI keeping tabs on the family members and friends. .

[@MRM-Red]

Can't wait see if he will love/ like this song!!

[@melanieviselli9706]

One of the first songs I can remember hearing by Jay & The Americans was "Come A Little Bit Closer". I was hooked after that.

[@BlueRidgeMtns100]

Love Jay Black! Jay and the Americans always make me smile.

[@bobbisimon8416]

My first concert back in the 70s with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons the concert was amazing!! 💖

[@belleferrar8898]

This was transitioning from Doo Wop to the next phase of the music scene. I loved listening to these songs on my transistor radio. Aah, I love going back in time with this music. Thanks for always taking me to happy times Ty.

[@patteel]

I love Jay's voice. Great range.

[@marknewton6984]

Beautiful voice! They knew how to sing back then!

[@jeanettesmith765]

Jay and the Americans were great! Jay Black's high notes still give me goosebumps!

[@debrathomas360]

Songs of this calibre make my heart sing, cry and soar!

[@nateulpanzarella9154]

I was 4, ad I want to say none of the talent today could stand equal to these guys. in the age of auto tune and dubbing, its not the same

[@jeanaungst4640]

Dude he probably liked it because the dudes voice is amazing. Can't believe you never mentioned that.

[@juliozamora8994]

loved this era, but the music was changing rapidly because of The Beatles, I was beginning High School, so I really loved that sound

[@richardfox1605]

He is nearly 80 now and still has those pipes!!

[@williamkeck7378]

I'm 72 and grew up on this kind of music. Jay&the Americans, 4 Seasons, Righteous Bros. and a whole lot more. All fantastic.

[@sorrystaunton]

Only two songs in 70 years made me stop and just stare at my radio...Cara Mia and Sound Of Silence....

[@clarkjunkins2661]

Me moo l my m

[@aprilradovic1356]

took me back to the days of band stand , love those days when all these groups were on t v

[@josephtaverna1287]

All I got to say is you're in for a treat this guy is incredible I'm thinking about subscribing I hope you read this I'm 62 years old and I know a ton of music absolutely you are 100% correct and believe it or not this guy's in his late seventies and can still perform this song

[@faithfulforever6331]

This had the "barbershop kinda feel to it?" You've got to be kidding! Just because you have backup singers does NOT mean you are singing in the style of barbershop singing. I like this song because Jay Black has a fantastic voice! How can you not comment on his voice?

[@michaelandrew4488]

One of my favourite songs from that period

[@ursulabklyn_mia6148]

Opera voice. Cara Mia means "my dear" in Italian.

[@lulunana1532]

I am 76 years old, I listened to this when I was a teenager. A little side note Jay Black could still hit these notes until recently. He is 80 plus years old now and the last time he sang it is on youtube. He only missed a note a couple times. He apologized to the audience too. He was 80 then! A wonderful person. His group was very popular with some great hits! You are just a few years off...they came a few years after Frankie Valli, the platters etc. My generation had the best songs! Musicians today still give credit to groups from the 1960s!

[@geebrewer8186]

In the late 80s, on a cruise ship, theme of the cruise was 60s-70s , so, several people of that era were on the ship. He was amazing, the vocals are what I love. Also on the ship was The Platters (touring version), Wolfman Jack, The Coasters (touring version), Paul Revere and the Raiders, Fabian, Bobby Rydell, the 4 Aces. Not sure if all were on the same cruise or not, as I went on this cruise 3 years in a row. Cara Mia stood out.

[@elizabethmuncie7487]

I was 10 years old at the time OMG...I still get goosebumps when I hear this ❤

[@lalunadawn]

Jay Black had a wonderful, strong voice. I love that song.

[@dennismolfese5847]

Great song. They are still performing and they still sound great..Was a 17 yr old when this cool track came out...LOve your commentary

[@Wolfsky9]

Summer of '65, I was 18 y/o, & this was MY song! ----------------" Cara Mia "-----------" My Heart " -------------------Jay & the Americans -----------------WolfSky9

[@franksmith7419]

Talent and it doesnt make you nervous.

[@marthawelch4289]

I do remember Jay's rendition of this song in a PBS contribution show. It was excellent. Jay did say that he wishes he wouldn't have included as many falsetto notes in the song when he wrote it, especially the ones that he had to hold for so long.

[@TonyPartington]

Hi Martha. Jay Black (who's a real favorite of mine) didn't write "Cara Mia." The song was written by Mantovani (under the name T. Trapani) back in the mid-fifties for a British tenor David Whitfield. It was Whitfield who had the original hit with "Cara Mia." Jay and the Americans recorded their version in 1965. In their arrangement, they took out the verse and just did the chorus. I love both Whitfield's version and Jay and the Americans version. Both very different but both terrific. Ciao! - Tony

[@nanettecarey9416]

My gosh...saw them at a small ski cafe in NY. I bet I wasn’t 20 yet! He was rather shy, but What a voice! Same reaction to the group, The Brooklyn Bridge. Lots of harmonies. All Jay & the Americans songs were hits. Oh, I retired the skis years ago, but not these memories. Thanks. N

[@brucecoleman9961]

You can't find music like that anymore.

[@susanthompson8962]

"Cara Mia" means "My Beloved" in Italian. I have this on a 45 rpm! This group harmonized well. They sang some songs with a Latin beat. "Come A Little Bit Closer" is one like that. This type of music came after the 50's. It was early to mid 60's. Jay Black had a great voice. I saw him in Philly in 1972. He was still able to hit it! Oct. 22nd of this year, he passed away at the age of 82, from pneumonia and Alzheimer's. I'm glad I have a cd with all his group's songs. R.I.P. Jay! 🙏

[@briangoguen8547]

There's a KZbin video that has Jay Black singing this 40 yrs. later.He hasn't skipped a beat.Still amazing.

[@MrRoach-yo3mz]

**JAY & THE AMERICANS** Song is CARA MIA

[@michaelgerena8894]

Another great voice :Jackie Wilson: To Be Loved, Night, Whispers (getting louder).

[@susanthompson8962]

Love his singing voice too!

[@barryfortier6377]

Cara Mia... Italian for 'My Beloved'. Love it.

[@davidmoorecatdaddy6994]

Actually, it means my darling.

[@barryfortier6377]

@@davidmoorecatdaddy6994 Not according to the Italian's who translated it for me.

[@javierserna1000]

I was 6 years old, and in the car with my mom and dad.. Loved the voice, the feel he put into the song naturally.. Had no idea who he was.. Was thinking maybe Elvis, because my family played the song 'It's Now or Never, alot by Elvis a year earlier.. Power, range, smooth, just nice! That's my story

[@agirlwholovesjesus]

The back story on this song is : The original lead singer,Jay, had quit the group and they were looking for a replacement. David Black (now known as "Jay" Black) had come over to one of the guys houses. Well, actually on of the guys parents' house, as they all stilled lived at home. The parents and their friends were having a party and the guys were in the basement for the audition. David sang this to show his range, and it brought all the "grown-ups" down to see who was singing it. They were all floored! They had to fight their record label to record it and release it, but they believed it would be a hit because of the reaction at the audition.

[@shave-a-thon3415]

You stated he was "David Black". Just to add a little more information, he was born David Blatt and grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family. His first experience singing in public was in a synagogue as part of a cantor's choir. Before Jay and the Americans, he used to appear on The Mike Douglas Show and used his real name, but Douglas thought he heard Black and called him that. That might be where the David Black came from in your comment.

[@agirlwholovesjesus]

@@shave-a-thon3415 yes, thank you. I knew he used Black as a professional name, but couldn't remember his real one. :)

[@biggeorgetx]

Jay and the Americans were great. Jay Black had an incredible voice and range. Vastly underappreciated, probably because they had a sound somewhat similar to the Drifters. Had many memorable top 20 hits in the 60's, none reaching #1.

[@helgar791]

Jay Black wasn't the original Jay with the Americans. The original was Jay Trainor. The group also became intertwined with the second iteration of the group The Tokens who had hits like "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and "Tonight I Fell In Love (my favorite)". Jay and the Americans had a lot of hits like "Come A Little Bit Closer", "Only In America" a remake of "This Magic Moment" (which was originally sung by The Drifters), "Let's Lock The Door" and lots of others. I had the pleasure of seeing Jay Black with The Americans twice back in the day. Great band, classic voice.

[@Rita-yw2tn]

Can't wait to see your reaction to this one .

[@clydeb7713]

Jay Black equals AMAZING voice!

[@saxmusicmail]

A great, powerful, beautiful voice. In fact, he was known as "The Voice". And up into his 70's he still performed, and still did that song in the original key, and nailed those high notes.

[@ItalidaReviews]

God Bless you for requesting this song. My mother is 85 and she loved this song as a little girl. The group is Jay and the Americans… the song is Cara Mia.

[@Modern-Renaissance-Man]

Long time no hear

[@ItalidaReviews]

@@Modern-Renaissance-Man hello! I’ve been around a little just not very active on KZbin. Hopefully that will change. I hope all is well with you!

[@Modern-Renaissance-Man]

@@ItalidaReviews did you stop doing your videos?

[@riverbender9898]

He still performed it perfectly...50 years later

[@richardscanlan3419]

Now you're cooking.This is music.

[@michaelgerena8894]

Requested this song a while back. This guy Jay Black still hit the same high notes while still in his early 70's. Check out the video : Cara Mia Jay & The Americans Now & Then showing him singing this song then and at age 72. Same great voice. 💯💯💯💯💯

[@StalkerMomRosie]

This song came out in 1965 I believe; I was 13 years old. That voice! He was still singing a couple of years ago, but I don't know if he's still singing.

[@SuperKaren1953]

I remember Jay and the Americans. I missed this song,probably when I was living with my Mamaw and Papaw. They only listened to gospel singing on the radio.

[@knearhood8]

This guy is in his 80's and can still hit all those high notes. There are videos to prove it.

[@rogeroday9408]

Cruising in Virginia Beach, It’s a simple song about love. I loved it instantly simply because of the sound. The harmony and Jay could belt it out there.

[@Gee1954]

I was 10 years old in 1965 when that song was a hit. I'm 70 years old now. So, it's more likely granpa wooing granma, than dad wooing mom with that song. Jay Black used to sing that song live. And the technology to correct a singers pitch and notes wasn't used until the 1990's. He had extraordinary control over his voice. What you are hearing is his own talent in a live performance, not studio recording. Since Jay was a boy he always sang live. He was a choir boy at the Cantor Moshe Koussevitzky and then at Temple Beth-El in Borough Park, Brooklyn. You can watch Jay's performance of that song in 2011 at the age of 73 years old still able to control his voice. He passed away in 2022. Jay Black was one of America's greatest singers and artists of the 1960's. That era cannot be told without Jay Black. By the way, Aretha Franklin always sang live too. She could never lip sync any of her songs even if her life depended on it.

[@danielfardella]

Jay was someone with a great operetic voice, and he came to a party we were having. So great to talk with him as I remembered Jay from way back. Great guy and never lost his voice one bit until he passed on. RIP brother...

[@QueenSnowPea]

Love Jay and The Americans. His voice gives me goosebumps. His version of Walking in the Rain from 1969 is a great song.

[@billysmith8784]

His last note at the end

[@billysmith8784]

Is in the STRATOSPHERE.

[@lauracosby7382]

Nice song, never heard it before. Shocking, thought mother played all of these songs back then!

[@sukie584]

The music was really changing at that time.. this was a holdover from the music that came before.(though I love it still) . by the end of '65 The Beatles were changing their sound, The Stones, the British Invasion was in full swing.. you also had bands like THe Velvet Underground who were starting the experimental, darker type of music that was to come...

[@Historian212]

Jay Black, aka David Blatt from Brooklyn, NY. Unbelievable voice, many great hits. Hey, I was about 10 years old when this came out, and I loved it without being in love or dating yet, or anything. Just an amazing song and performance.

[@jimhall9624]

This song stands out !- this group had a string of hits because the man had a voice ! and it was just past the Doo Woop period and before music started to get darker - like music of the Doors or late 60's music. it's still one of my favorites !

[@wandabenningfield5946]

He has a beautiful voice....This guy doesn't know it!

[@UrLocalGacha_Tuber]

Jay Black is incredible. His voice is beyond any barbershop quartet. Gracious! Do you have ears to hear?

[@katie-didellis2437]

We lost Jay Oct 22, 2021 at 82 yo. 😪 he was known as the Voice. Jay, you and your talent will be missed.

[@mermaidwe2743]

One of my all time favorites. Don't u just love the go go dancers

[@kennethjenson9746]

Jay had/have a fantastic voice.. I got to know this song in the seventies when i went to the 6 days racing in europe. It´s often used for those purposes and it´s a fantastic and relaxing song for me, and brings back great childhood memories.

[@KenOtwell]

Love your commentary - so real and friendly. Subscribed!

[@Modern-Renaissance-Man]

Thanks and welcome

[@dabdella1460]

Talk about some pipes And the distance Wow Come a little bit closer Is my favorite Jay song Dd

[@dabdella1460]

Thank you for my heart Ty I lost it fixing my spelling. Dd

[@ronnie237]

I’m 73 and this came out when i was a teen. Got to see them in person when I was in college

[@Wolfsky9]

Jay & The Americans : " Cara Mia " -----[ MY Heart ] -------------------------------WolfSky9

[@kimmckenna8987]

Jeez, this song brings back memories! My father used to wake myself and my sisters up to this song on weekends when he was home by opening our bedroom doors and cranking it to the highest volume level the speaker system in the house could handle and then singing along with it in the hallway outside our bedroom doors to wake us up. A professional singer, my father was not, but he loves his music! Not a pleasant way to wake up as a teenager, but it is definitely got a special meaning for my family as a result! Jay had a fantastic voice though!

[@jamesnfranklyn2413]

if you want a real treat...pull up this video 50 YEARS LATER IN 2015...he's still remarkable and holds those notes just like he did when he made this....

[@gazork123]

You should hear the version he did on PBS in 2011; he was 72 years old, smoking a pack a day, and sounded better than this! He passed recently at age 82. What wonderful music!

[@mdfield1]

I was 12 when I heard their first big song, with the original Jay (Traynor). It was ‘She Cried’ and it was released in 1962. Traynor left the group not long after and David (he “adopted” the name Jay) Black joined the group and replaced Traynor on lead vocals. This song, ‘Cara Mia’, came out in 1965. I know because I still have the 45 record I bought then. I say this because I know this song like I know every Beatles or Rolling Stones song and I know that this is their ORIGINAL RECORDING of ‘Cara Mia’. They are lip syncing. It was a common thing in those days as most TV shows insisted on it. One of the shows that didn’t was The Ed Sullivan Show.

[@Wolfsky9]

This is cut from fall of '65, " Shindig" ------with a studio recording of the song! ----------------------------WolfSky9

[@Jo.885]

Cara Mia is the name of the song lol. They don't make music like this anymore. I'm a huge fan of Jay and the Americans.

[@mimiluvfromsf]

Jay's song brought me to your site, what a sweetie you are! Me, soon to be a great grandmother, and 13 grand kids, enjoyed your enjoyment of Jay Black.

[@ABfromWindsor]

It's Jay and the Americans and the song is Cara Mia. Jay Black fantastic singer with a Opera like voice and he shows it on this song.👍

[@dappylu]

I saw Jay in concert in 1998, he still sounded great. Do a reaction on Frankie Valli & the 4 Seasons songs 'Ragdoll' & 'Dawn'

[@susanthompson8962]

Funny you say that. I saw Jay & The Americans along with Frankie Vallie and The Four Seasons, and Tommy James and The Shondells, in the same concert. This was in 1974, at the Philadelphia Spectrum. It was great!

[@ronniemiller7451]

David blatt also known as Jay Black was a train vocalist the Jewish religion be a cantor