Jay LaBoy

"Hurricane" Jay LaBoy an American musician born 1975. He uses his music to create blues from the heart and soul.
Biography
Jay LaBoy was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1975. He grew up in Hartford, moving to Wethersfield when he was 15 years old. LaBoy attended South Catholic High School in Hartford for two years, then attended East Catholic High School in Manchester, Connecticut in which he graduated from in 1993.
He had a strong desire to play guitar at an early age. The first time LaBoy picked up a guitar; it was his brother’s right-handed acoustic guitar. He taught himself to play it with the strings upside down. His brother would encourage him to play the guitar the proper way, but never took his advice. Soon after that LaBoy bought a left-handed electric guitar with the help and encouragement of his brother.
The sales person that sold LaBoy his first guitar was a local legend himself Jimi Bell.
Jay LaBoy is known as "Hurricane" Jay LaBoy for his hurricane style of playing guitar. One of his favorite guitar players was Stevie Ray Vaughan, which he was quoted as saying “Stevie Ray Vaughan is the reason I'm playing and the reason I am alive right now". He loves the sounds of Motown and old R&B. The 1980s had many new talents emerging with different sounds and rhythms that influenced his personal desire to be a fiery blues guitar player. The entertainers that captured his attention with their musical talents were Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bon Jovi, Jimi Hendrix, and James Taylor.
Career
1980s and 1990s
LaBoy began playing guitar to an audience in 1989. Taking tips from guitar players like Jimi Bell, Jeff Pitchell and Burt Teague.
Jay LaBoy joined a band, Twist of Fate in 1989. They played classic rock covers, which lead them to a tour for the United States Defense Department Tours Program through South Korea and Japan. They played for the Air Force's 48th Anniversary in South Korea 1995. Nearly 50,000 soldiers and their families were in attendance for this celebration.
LaBoy sold guitars and studied under Connecticut guitar legend, Jimi Bell, at the Music Exchange in Newington, Connecticut during 1996. He felt he was ready to go back on tour with Sister Sez, from Pittsburgh to Western Colorado in 1997. Soon after that he moved to Pennsylvania and joined the Wall of Blues Band. During this period of time, Jay LaBoy had gained experience in the music world.
In 1998 Jay LaBoy created a blues, rock, funk band called “Hurricane” Jay LaBoy and In Step. The name of the band In Step came from the last In Step Tour of Stevie Ray Vaughan. During this time, LaBoy backed Chicago blues legend, Jimmy Dawkins, at a show honoring Mr. Dawkins. This event was held at the Adam's MarkHotel in Philadelphia PA.
LaBoy released his first CD in 1999, “Step Aside” with In Step. Guitar player Jimmy Dawkins was a special guest on two of the tracks. I Ain't Cryin (I Kept My Money In My Shoe)and Blue Wind. Also with LaBoy on Step Aside was Michael Quintero-Moore on bass and vocals and Glenn Webb on drums.

2000s
Jay LaBoy was PhillyBlues.com’s Artist of the Month in September 2000, also twice nominated for The Abilene Awards for Best Guitarist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This award was issued by the Abilene Southwest Roadhouse Restaurant, located at 429 South St, Philadelphia Pa. This was a popular bar restaurant in the early 2000s (decade) that presented many great musicians, such as Tommy Conwell until it closed down in 2006.
In 2001 a second CD was released, entitled, "Pure Soul" with “Hurricane” Jay LaBoy and In Step.
Jay LaBoy and In Step played at the Veterans Stadium for the Annual Beef & Beer for 610 WIP Sports Radio station June 2003, before the stadium came down.
Starting in 2004 LaBoy joined the Buicks when they signed with Teletone Studios in March 2005. They released a CD July 2006 which Jay Laboy was a featured artist. LaBoy was also working on his first ever solo acoustic CD, “Songs From A One Bedroom Apartment”.
As his life went through changes so did his music; he joined different bands with different sounds. Helping him evolve into the musician he is today. Reformed "Hurricane" Jay LaBoy and In Step with Marc Iezzi and Willie Williams in 2006. Produced and released a live "Hurricane" Jay LaBoy & In Step DVD.
In 2008 Jay LaBoy decided to relocate back to Connecticut where he is originally from and started to perform as Acoustically Speaking.
The Wethersfield Life Magazine featured Jay LaBoy on his new acoustic sound and coming home to Connecticut January 9, 2009. It was titled: Guitarist comes home from Philly with a new acoustic sound. He calls this new sound "Acoustically Speaking"
Since August 2009, Jay has worked for Carnival Cruise Lines as a solo acoustic performer. He has played for over ten thousand cruisers on five Carnival ships (Miracle, Dream, Legend, Fascination and Freedom) in St. Maarten, St. Thomas, San Juan, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Key West, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Aruba, Curacao, Tortola, Antigua, Nassau, Mexico and more.
Discography
*Step Aside (1999)
*In Step: Live from the Lehigh Valley Blues Festival (2001)
*Pure Soul (2001)
*In Step: Live from the Lehigh Valley Blues Festival-DVD (2002)
*The Buicks featuring "Hurricane" Jay LaBoy (2006)
*Songs From A One Bedroom Apartment (2007)
*Why Isn't This Working? (2010)

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