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Jay Semko
Country / Americana / Folk

singin and strummin......



Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Canada

Profile Views:  51206




Last Login:  7/10/2009
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   Jay Semko: General Info
Member Since9/6/2006
Band Websitewww.jaysemko.com
Band MembersJay Semko performs with a number of different musicians at different times and also performs as a solo acoustic artist
InfluencesRolling Stones, Johnny Cash and June Carter(first concert I ever saw), Beatles, Byrds, Gram Parsons, Flying Burrito Bros., The Guess Who, Elvis Costello, Pure Prairie League, Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, BTO, Alice Cooper, Jackson Browne, Gordon Lightfoot, Tom Petty, Police, Sting, Squeeze, Ian and Sylvia, XTC, New Riders of the Purple Sage, the Who, Peter Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, John Irving, Keith Hampshire, Pagliaro, Pink Floyd, Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, Nick Drake, The Band, Bob Dylan, Nick Lowe, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, Radiohead, Burl Ives, Morrissey, Stompin' Tom, the Smiths, Sonny James, Limelighters, Steve Earle, Douglas Coupland, Ramones, Stephen King, Tommy Hunter, Neil Young, Muddy Waters, Buck Owens, Glenn Gould, CCR, Leonard Cohen, Don Messer, Mark Twain, Francis Ford Coppola
Sounds LikeJay Semko
Record LabelBusted Flat Records
Type of LabelIndie


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   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Aug 14 2009 9:00P
The Northern Pikes - Montes Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Aug 15 2009 8:00P
The Northern Pikes - Riverfest Liverpool, Nova Scotia
Aug 16 2009 7:30P
The Northern Pikes - Granville Green Amphitheatre Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia

Jay Semko's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

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   About Jay Semko

MAY/09 - PIKES!!!

The Northern Pikes will be playing some select dates in Canada this summer - check out gig listings for where and when!!!

MARCH 2/09 - JOHN LENNON SONGWRITING CONTEST FINALIST!!!

Jay's song, "Jesus Is Gonna Help Me", was just chosen as a Finalist in the Gospel/Inspirational category of the 2008 John Lennon Songwriting Contest. This is a worldwide songwriting contest, and Jay is very excited and grateful that his song has been chosen for this honour!!!

SXSW AND FOLK ALLIANCE!!!

Jay had a great time in Austin at South By Southwest and in Memphis at the International Folk Alliance Conference - his Performance Alley show in Memphis was broadcast live across North America on Sirius Satellite Radio on XM15 The Village!! Jay is also preparing to record his new album, to be released later this year, and will be playing some dates in Canada this summer with The Northern Pikes - good things happening!!!

"the album sounds like a cross between Gram Parsons and Ian Tyson. Semko's approach to country music is hip, informed as it is with an affectionate irony and a big grin." Robert Reid- The Kitchener/Waterloo Record

"It feels like a memoir from Semko to himself- and if we're privy to his inner thoughts, then we're all the luckier for it." Craig Silliphant- Planet S

"a fun country-rock album, roots music akin to what Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds used to do in their infamous New Wave group Rockpile." Robert Merserau- Fredericton Telegraph Journal

"a soulful, sweet offering that shares similarities with Buck Owens." David McPherson- Exclaim



About Jay

"I think everything happens for a reason- the road we travel isn't always the one we would have chosen, but sometimes we just have to put it in God's hands and let it take us where it will".

"International Superstar" is the third studio album from Jay Semko, and his sixth solo release.This is the story of how it came to be....

Jay began his music career in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, as singer/songwriter/bassist with Canadian pop icons the Northern Pikes. The Pikes earned 4 Gold records and 1 Platinum through radio and video airplay, and their non-stop touring made many friends for them across North America and beyond. Some of the hit singles Jay wrote and recorded with the Pikes include "Teenland", "Things I Do For Money", "Wait For Me", and "Girl With A Problem", as well as many others. Jay recieved 2 awards from the Canadian Music Publishers Association for his songwriting, and the Pikes were nominated for 8 Juno Awards through their career.

In 1993 the Pikes began a 6 year hiatus and Jay was approached by Oscar and Emmy-winning("Thirty Something", "Crash") writer/producer/director Paul Haggis to write music for a TV movie pilot entitled "Due South". After writing the theme song, Jay went on to co-compose the music score for the history-making series (first Canadian-made production to premiere on prime-time US TV- CBS). Jay was nominated twice for Best Music Score In A Dramatic Series(Gemini Awards), and 66 episodes of "Due South" were produced. 2 Soundtrack albums were released, and "Due South", as the most successful Canadian TV series ever created, is currently in syndication around the world. In addition to "Due South", Jay has written music scores and had songs placed in many other award-winning TV series, documentaries and films.

Jay's first solo album, "Mouse", was originally released in 1995. As Jay's first recording outside of the Pikes, it ventured into some new musical territory- pedal steel, twangy telecasters and a folksier, more western feel. "Strawberry Girl" and "Times Change" both cracked the Top 40 in Canada, and music videos for the songs received extensive airplay on CMT. Jay toured across Canada with his band while still composing for "Due South" and other shows- he was a busy guy.

It took 10 years for Jay to release a second solo record- not that he wasn't doing anything during that time- Jay continued his composing work, produced other artists, and in 2000 the Pikes reformed and hit the road again upon the release of their "Hits and Assorted Secrets"album.

In 2005 Jay was approached by Canadian filmmaker and friend Marshall Ward, about being the subject of a documentary dealing with the songwriting and recording process. It was entitled "Love Will Set You Free", from the song of the same name, and was the catalyst that got Jay back in the studio recording his own music.

A 3-song EP of the same name was released that year, which was followed by a 10-song acoustic album of traditional Christmas music. This led to the recording of "Redberry", Jay's second full-length solo album, in 2006. It delved further into Jay's love of folk/country music, and airplay across Canada and Europe re-established him as one of this country's finest songwriters. Jay began to perform again as a solo acoustic artist, and in March 2007 Jay was recorded with a full band by the CBC at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum Theatre for "Canada Live". This was released as a full album in January of 2008, and was the precursor to Jay's newest studio album, "International Superstar".

In Jay's words: " I had been struggling with a big problem for a long time, and I finally had to deal with it... after a couple of setbacks I finally started to get it together. I went through a pretty dark chapter of my life, but as the fog cleared, I started writing a lot of new songs- most of them were dealing with what I'd been through- it was a good way to get things out, but they were coming from a pretty sad place. For a while I thought this was going to be the theme of the new album, but as time went on, I started to feel better about things- in fact , I was feeling better than I'd felt for years! Out of the blue, I got it in my mind that I should take a trip to Nashville- I'd played there with the Pikes a few times, but didn't really know the town. I went down with no expectations, and got together with a few different songwriters to see what it would be like to co-write with different people- I've always been a pretty solitary writer, but I wanted to try something different. Lo and behold, I had a blast! It was like- why did I never do this before?? I made some great friends, and we came up with what I think are some of the funnest tunes I've ever done... out of the one of the toughest periods of my life comes the happiest sounding record I've ever done!! I did write a few of the songs on my own- you'll get the title track - I could talk all day about the songs, but I think when people hear this album, they're going to hear music from a guy that's now in a pretty good place- I feel like the luckiest man in the world to be where I'm at- every day is a blessing, and I'm enjoying being on the road more than I ever have!!"

Jay has recorded with such notables as Garth Hudson(The Band), John Sebastian(Lovin' Spoonful), the late Stan Celeste(Jackson Browne, CS&N), Bob Egan(Wilco, Blue Rodeo), Margo Timmins(Cowboy Junkies), Crystal Taliefero(Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen), Ashley MacIsaac and Serena Ryder. Jay has also shared the bill with such artists as David Bowie, Robert Palmer, Bruce Hornsby, Peter Frampton, kd Lang, Tom Cochrane, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and many, many others.

You can find Jay here:
itunes
cdbaby
indiepool
puretracks
youtube
sonicbids


   Jay Semko's Friend Space (Top 40)
Jay Semko has 10339 friends.
 Johnny Cash 


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 Busted Flat Records 





Jay Semko's Friends Comments
Displaying 25 of 1275 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Mishavonna





Jul 9 2009 6:03 AM

Thanks sooo much for the awesome comment and keeping in touch!
I'm working on lots more new songs.
Hope you're having an awesome summer!
Spread the word...follow me on twitter too :D
twitter.com/MishavonnaH
God Bless,
Mishavonna
Phil 4:13
Marie-Ève Côté





Jul 8 2009 3:03 PM

Découvrez l'univers musical de Marie-Eve Côté en vous procurant son premier album Maintenant... Femme.

Vous pouvez l'acheter dès maintenant en ligne via le http://www.marieevecote.com/boutique . Vous n'avez qu'à compléter le formulaire et effectuer votre paiement via le service sécurisé Paypal. Vous recevrez par la suite votre exemplaire par la poste.

Marie-Eve Côté - Une voix et un album à découvrir!
LENINGRAD COWBOYS





Jul 8 2009 5:49 AM

COMRADE THANKS FOR BEING A FRIEND!
freedom





Jul 7 2009 12:31 AM

Much Luv brother! Miss ya!
Jenna Torres





Jul 6 2009 12:55 AM

My new single "I Can't Kiss Me" just became available at ITUNES and you can watch the video at YOUTUBE. The full album comes out on Aug 11th! Check it out at my page!

xo - Jenna
Cheryl


Online Now!


Jul 5 2009 4:30 AM

Just showing some love xxx
Very Independent Pluggers





Jul 4 2009 4:15 PM

Thank you!
Silva Nigra





Jul 3 2009 7:18 PM

Hi Jay! It's hot today in Hamburg, is getting too hot for me. Hope that your doing fine and I hope we can see us some fine day. Wish you a wonderful, and for me a cool weekend. However that may be, Prost Amigo :-)
This Great White North





Jul 3 2009 1:42 PM

Just a reminder to listen to THE NORTHERN PIKES on THIS GREAT WHITE NORTH. It's an ALL CANADIAN music show FRIDAYS 4:30-6pm CST on 91.7 KOOP FM in Austin, Texas. You can listen online at www.KOOP.org.

Cheers!
Doug The Canuck
Susan Hickman





Jul 3 2009 9:17 AM

You are AWESOME!!! Thank you so much for being a friend!!!

Wrapped Up In Me is #38 on the New Music Weekly Country Main Chart!!!! I am also #18 on the top 30 Indie Chart this week!!!
It is on radio stations across the nation, you can request it now!!!!!
Also, If you are around Friday August 28th I'll be having a big show at Tumbleweed Texas in Houston Texas I really hope to see you there!!!

If you sign up on my mailing list this week you will be entered in the drawing for a copy of my new self-titled CD Susan Hickman.
you also get a free download just for singing up.
Just fill in the mailing list form on my MySpace page!!!
Hope you have a great week!!!
Love ~Susan
www.susanhickman.com
GONE HOME TO CANADA!





Jul 2 2009 11:34 PM

Hope you had a pleasant Canada Day!
~Brock~
♥Peggy♥





Jul 2 2009 10:33 PM

Check out my profile And Let me know Do you like me YES or NO http://www.doulike.us/photos/1054467.html?b=4&w=46
Karling Abbeygate





Jul 2 2009 9:20 PM

Thanks for finding me! Real glad to have ya as a friend!
Karling
~^.^~
xx
Stillinlimbo





Jul 2 2009 5:51 PM

hey Jay!!!!!
I hope you are well and happy!!!
Roy(still inlimbo)
Love your music!!!!!!!!!!!
Janet Martin





Jul 1 2009 2:03 AM

thanks Jay-best to you
~j
Michaela Anne





Jun 30 2009 9:10 PM

Thanks and thanks for the add! I like your influences! ;-)
Kim Lenz





Jun 30 2009 2:45 PM

Hey! Thanks for the add! I appreciate it so much! If ya get a chance, check out my new record, www.kimlenz.com!
Thanks again!



Kim
~FOLLOW YOUR HEART DREAMS DO COME TRUE~





Jun 30 2009 11:15 AM

I am doing ok this day.How r u doing?I hope you have a wonderful day and keep doing what you are you sure do know how to make a girl like me smile.hugs..Becky
SUSAN





Jun 29 2009 11:11 PM

Just wanted to say "hi" and ;)
!!!
Grace Ashton





Jun 29 2009 6:19 PM

Hey Jay
Really? Aww You're Too Kind :)
Album Is Out Soon, Keep Your Eyes Pealed!
Grace
x

Henry Golis





Jun 29 2009 4:52 PM

Jay Semko,Thanks for the request.Great to have you as a friend on MySpace!All the best,Henry Golis{Park Lane Drive Records}
Carrie Katz





Jun 29 2009 1:48 PM

Thanks for the kind words,

You have a lovely delivery and voice,

Cheers!

Carrie
kaown





Jun 29 2009 9:12 AM

Dear Jay,
Thank you for listening!
I'm doing well and wishing you a happy new week :)
xoxo
kaown
El Cuartelillo





Jun 29 2009 7:47 AM

Thanks for all, Jay.

Best regards,
dani





Jun 29 2009 2:20 AM

the cooofffeees always warm and sooo are yooou ♪♪
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