Penny Jay was born in Monteagle, Tennessee. When her Mother, Edna Tobitt Adams remarried they moved to Knoxville, TN and Jay began performing with her mother at church functions at the age of 10. Cas Walker, a Knoxville merchant and host of a radio show on local WROL (which is also credited with helping launch the careers of Dolly Parton and The Everly Brothers) featured Penny Jay performing under the name "Little Miss Helen" when she was 12. Jay played stand-up bass and guitar, and became a fixture on the show during the early '40s. "Little Miss Helen" was the very first Golden Girl of Knoxville, Tennessee.
In the early '50s, Jay began performing as part of a duo with a friend named Marie Wilson. The pair were billed as "Jenny & Jill", and they recorded several original sides for OKeh Records, including "A Million Other Hearts".
Jay moved to Nashville in the early '60s, and began performing and writing songs for other artists. She was signed to Republic Records, but her contract was picked up by Decca Records. She ultimately released eight singles on Decca, including "Just Over The Line", "Lonely And Unwanted", and "Those Kinds of Girls". Jay performed at the Grand Ole Opry, and on Roy Acuff's "Midnight Jamboree" radio show broadcast from Ernest Tubb's record shop. (She also toured, during the Korean War, for the USO. Penny enjoyed singing for all the military troops. Her USO Tours carried her to China, Japan, Philippine Islands, Iceland, Greenland, and Hawaii.) Jay's band at this time included her daughter, Sherry Moyers, who was the first female professional C/W Drummer in Nashville.
Jay had her greatest success as a professional songwriter, and in 1962 scored a #1 hit on the country charts when Carl and Pearl Butler recorded her song "Don't Let Me Cross Over". Originally released in November 1962, the song reached the number-one spot on the Billboard Country Singles chart on December 29, 1962. The song eventually spent 11 (non-consecutive) weeks at number one, and has become a country-music standard. It has been covered by over 30 artists, including George Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Dolly Parton. Other songs Jay wrote include Skeeter Davis' "Set Him Free", Jimmy Martin's trucker ode "Widow Maker", and many more.
Jay eventually stopped performing in the 1970s, and moved to Nashville, Arkansas in 1996 to live with her daughter and son-in-law, guitarist Bobby Chambers. She died in 2006. She was buried in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Referencesedit
External linksedit
Penny Jay and her 1953 Gibson J-50 at the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum
Discography at Discogs.com
Discography at Discogs.com
Carl and Pearl Butler perform "Don't Let Me Cross Over" on YouTube (Penny Jay seen in background, left) video
Skeeter Davis sings "Don't Let Me Cross Over" on YouTube
penny, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, october, 2019, learn, when, remove, t. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations October 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Penny Jay June 12 1925 March 29 2006 was an American country music singer and songwriter who was active from the 1940s to the 1960s She is best known for Don t Let Me Cross Over a song she wrote which reached 1 on the country music charts in late 1962 Penny JayBirth nameHelen Florence AdamsAlso known asHelen Penny Jay MoyersBorn 1925 06 12 June 12 1925Monteagle TennesseeDiedMarch 29 2006 2006 03 29 aged 80 Nashville Arkansas U S GenresCountryOccupation s Singer SongwriterInstrument s Guitar Standup BassLabelsOKeh Republic Decca Sony Penny Jay was born in Monteagle Tennessee When her Mother Edna Tobitt Adams remarried they moved to Knoxville TN and Jay began performing with her mother at church functions at the age of 10 Cas Walker a Knoxville merchant and host of a radio show on local WROL which is also credited with helping launch the careers of Dolly Parton and The Everly Brothers featured Penny Jay performing under the name Little Miss Helen when she was 12 Jay played stand up bass and guitar and became a fixture on the show during the early 40s Little Miss Helen was the very first Golden Girl of Knoxville Tennessee In the early 50s Jay began performing as part of a duo with a friend named Marie Wilson The pair were billed as Jenny amp Jill and they recorded several original sides for OKeh Records including A Million Other Hearts Jay moved to Nashville in the early 60s and began performing and writing songs for other artists She was signed to Republic Records but her contract was picked up by Decca Records She ultimately released eight singles on Decca including Just Over The Line Lonely And Unwanted and Those Kinds of Girls Jay performed at the Grand Ole Opry and on Roy Acuff s Midnight Jamboree radio show broadcast from Ernest Tubb s record shop She also toured during the Korean War for the USO Penny enjoyed singing for all the military troops Her USO Tours carried her to China Japan Philippine Islands Iceland Greenland and Hawaii Jay s band at this time included her daughter Sherry Moyers who was the first female professional C W Drummer in Nashville Jay had her greatest success as a professional songwriter and in 1962 scored a 1 hit on the country charts when Carl and Pearl Butler recorded her song Don t Let Me Cross Over Originally released in November 1962 the song reached the number one spot on the Billboard Country Singles chart on December 29 1962 The song eventually spent 11 non consecutive weeks at number one and has become a country music standard It has been covered by over 30 artists including George Jones Jerry Lee Lewis and Dolly Parton Other songs Jay wrote include Skeeter Davis Set Him Free Jimmy Martin s trucker ode Widow Maker and many more Jay eventually stopped performing in the 1970s and moved to Nashville Arkansas in 1996 to live with her daughter and son in law guitarist Bobby Chambers She died in 2006 She was buried in Knoxville Tennessee References editExternal links editPenny Jay and her 1953 Gibson J 50 at the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum Discography at Discogs com Discography at Discogs com Carl and Pearl Butler perform Don t Let Me Cross Over on YouTube Penny Jay seen in background left video Skeeter Davis sings Don t Let Me Cross Over on YouTube Jimmy Martin sings Widow Maker on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Penny Jay amp oldid 1188706867, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
