Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay & Tammy Roy.
Hi Jay & Tammy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The picture with that young man playing the Stella Acoustic Guitar is me, Jay Roy. At 10, I accompanied my Brother Jim Roy on fiddle and we played Prince Edward Island Jigs and Reels.
The picture of the Band with me playing a Black 1957 Fender Strat was in East Otisfield, Maine 1959.
Photo of the Band wearing matching Sweater’s was The Impact’s, 1962. Rumford Maine.
Graduate of Stephen’s High School Class of 1960, my hometown, Rumford, Maine.
JFK was assassinated November 22, 1963. The day I got my draft notice. I was sent to Ft. Dix, NJ January 22, 1964 for Basic Training and Reported for Duty at Ft Hood, Texas, April 10, 1964.
Photo of a Band dressed in Black is me with a 1967 Mosrite Guitar over my head. I was headed to record for Alan Toussant and Marshall Sehorn in New Orleans on Bourbon Street in 1968. We recorded Three 45rpm Records.
The fiddler in the knickers is my Pa, Aurele Roy Sr photo in the early 1920’s.
The photo of me picking with Chubby Wise was in Pidcoke, Texas, at The Bluestem Ballroom. He gave me a ride on Orange Blossom Special, a tune he wrote. Wow, what a thrill.
The photo taken in Pedernales, TX, at Willie Nelson’s home sitting at his bar is The Jobangles Band, managed by Tony Brewster, Willie’s son-in-law, 1979, with bandmates David Scafe on Drums and Dave Heidelberg on Bass. Sadly Tony was killed in a car accident.
Tammy and I packed up our 1967 Ford Econoline Van and headed for Maine, where we formed The Last Straw Band photo with Tammy playing her 1967 Ventures Model Mosrite Bass bought from The Bell Family in Athol, Idaho. Tammy had her first gig in nearby, Newport Washington. I taught her how to play on this journey. My father gave me his fiddle, so I started her playing chords.
In the Miners Camp photo, We were 10 months On The Road, Met Bud Issacs, who invented the pedals on the steel guitar, and his wife, Geri Mapes, who I’m setting in with. That was awesome.
Photo with Merle Travis was in Lampasas, Texas, at the AmVets Club in 1982.. it’s another honor to have played with this gentleman.
Photo with Bruce Scafe and I. Bruce is in our Jam Band. Bruce Scafe, Paul Bosner and Bill Arhos, Co-Creator’s of ACL, Austin City Limits.
Photo of Tammy and I hosted The Picking Circle in Luckenbach every Monday, April 2017. Clyde Ray Smith setting in.
Tammy and I have been on The Midwest Country Show out of Sandstone, Minnesota, which airs on RFD TV since July 4, 2010.
Photo of us playing for Good Samboree RV Rally. We played Six State Rallies and the 1999 International Rally in Ames, Iowa.
We play for Austin Baptist Church “Senior Servants Club.” They used to be called The Hilltoppers Club. Blessings All Around
We air every Sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 am Central Texas Time. Sunday Gathering hosted by Rick Smith and Bill Hecke, KNCT Radio 91.3 Simply Beautiful, Central Texas College.
Photo of Jay and Jay White, who recommended this interview. Jay White is the music minister of Rockdale Cowboy Church. We’ve played for him several times there.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There were many breakdowns but all I remember are the good people we met. We had a 1956 GMC PD 4104 Bus, The same model of bus Lee Roy Eichler drove George Strait around in the beginning. I Took it over the Sierra Nevada Mountains with no Jake Brake. Lesson learned…. Don’t do that! Jim Stearns installed one for us in Aberdeen Washington. An angel in our life!
I bought a Kings Highway Motorhome from Lenny Breau’s mother in Maine, towing a Subaru, pulled into the Walmart parking lot, and had quite an incline. Our Subaru was on a trailer, came unhooked, and sat in the middle of the road of an intersection. OMG, A Good Samaritain was hooking it to their vehicle pulling it out of the road. Another Angel.
Athol, Idaho in our green school bus with yellow curtains, we ran out of money. A man who owned a gas station said to pull in here. He hooked us up to electricity. I got a few gigs in the bar across the street where guitar player Roy Lanham Of The Sons of The Pioneers played with a man who had gigged with Eddie Fisher. That’s where I met Bud Issacs and Geri Mapes.
We’re now traveling in a VW Rialta since 2010. We bought it had 75,000 miles. 250,000 now.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In the 70s, I had the house band atThe National Hall in Killeen. I played with Roy Head, John Conlee, Eddie Rabbit, Vern Gosdin, Faron Young, Laura Lee McBride, etc.
I went to Central Texas College in Killeen on The GI Bill, taking Theory, Harmony, Counterpoint with Adel Galanffy. Louis & Adel Galanffy played dual pianos at Carnegie Hall in the 50’s. I am very proud to have that training.
I spent two years in the United States Army—1964-1966 January and 4 years in The Reserves. I am very proud to have served my country. I have 5 brothers who also served. 2 Army, 2 Air Force & 2 Marines.
I call myself French Acadian Appalachian Hillbilly Gypsy Musician.
As a child in 5th Grade, I’d leave school at lunchtime to run to two men’s homes to pick up their lunch pails to carry to the Oxford Paper Mill 5 days a week and was rewarded a Dollar each for each pail and a Molasses Cookie. I did a lot of running in Rumford, Maine, my hometown.
I’ve learned in my senior years, I’m 81, that I unknowingly mentored many guitarists making a living at it today. I am very proud of that.
We got an incredible letter from John Beland, he saw us on The Midwest Country Show, whose band was the Flying Burrito Brothers. He worked with Ricky Nelson and mentored and was the backing band of Linda Ronstadt. I’ve attached that letter.
Ian Craig from Scotland, who now lives in Renous, New Brunswick, presented me with a custom made, by him, Dreadnaught Guitar, with a letter of recognition and appreciation for what we do. It is so overwhelming, and I am proud to have this accolade. I’ve attached that letter.
I am pleased to have played with Freddy Fender in 1977.
I am proud to have gigged with my wife, Tammy, for 41years. Together 45 years.
We have been through 48 States and Alaska. 9 Provinces of Canada.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
James Wear is writing our story in a Book. The title is “My Years On The Road With Tammy.” You might consider doing an Interview with James Wear. He is a “hidden gem!” jayandtammy.com, jaytammyvarietymusic@gmail.com
Contact Info:
- Website: jayandtammy.com
Image Credits
Photos taken by Jay & Tammy Roy
