British Country Singer Still 'Crazy' About Patsy Cline

British Country Singer Still 'Crazy' About Patsy Cline Valerie Jay & the Americanos Stage Fundraiser at Marin County Club

March 5, 2003

SAN FRANCISCO-To mark the 40th anniversary of country legend Patsy Clines death, Valerie Jay & The Americanos played to a standing room only crowd at the Sweetwater in Mill Valley, in Marin County, in a fundraiser for Celebrating Patsy Cline Inc.

The organization is hoping to make Clines childhood home in Winchester, Virginia, a landmark open to the public. Judy Sue Kempf, the head of the group, thanked Jay, noting: You are the first person to offer to do something for her. Others have said, call if you need anything, but you did something. With friends like you our dream will come true."

Valerie Jay is a native of Yorkshire, England, who was raised on country music, regularly performs Cline songs in her act, and moved to the United States to pursue her music career.

"I acknowledge that Patsy Cline is one of my many influences. She was such a tremendous talent I felt it was fitting to mark 40 years since we lost a truly remarkable singer.
Patsy Cline opened the door for future female country singers. We owe her a great debt, this was a small repayment."

Among the audience at the Sweetwater was veteran rock journalist Ben Fong-Torres. Valerie was fantastic," he said. Shes blessed with a voice that brings back Patsy, but shes got her own voice and writes fine songs of her own, as well. It was a night of great music for a good cause."

April 2003 sees Valerie Jay & The Americanos playing two local northern California TV shows: The Bruce Latimer Show on April 2nd (9 p.m. on Channel 26). The band will also be on the KRONs Stand Up Its Thursday Nite, which is taped before a studio audience in San Jose. Tickets for the April 10 taping are available for $10 through Big Lils www.biglils.com or by calling 408-295-7469). The performance is scheduled to air on April 25. Valerie Jay & The Americanos will also play at an 'After Show Party at Big Lils in San Jose.

Valerie Jay & The Americanos include Valerie Jay -- Vocals/acoustic guitar, Ken Owen -- Drums, Rob McLucky -- Bass, Jeff Hanson -- Steel Guitar, David Caffinetti on keyboards, Calvin Murasaki on fiddle, and Michael Roy Alderson on harmony vocals and guitar.

The bands schedule is on Jays Web site, www.valerie4music.com.

Valeries CD, Only When You Smile, is available at Virgin, where she plans to do a live performance in the near future. The recording can also be found at www.cdbaby.com.

In April, Valerie Jay will be working with Marcus Barone, the composer and film music supervisor, on a single. And a late spring release, Baby Blue, will feature three original Jay tunes and backing by, among others, Albert Lee, the Grammy-winning guitarist.