Jonathan E. Smith, also known as Jay, was born and raised in Eden, NC. As a child, Jay was surrounded by the enlightening sounds of Gospel and the soulful rhythms of R&B, inspiring him to pursue a life in music. In 2017, Jay acquired his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Queens University of Charlotte, where he also learned and refined his skills in performance technique, musical theatre and classical repertoire. After completing his studies, Jay began teaching musicians of all ages the skills of voice and piano while starting an early career as a live recording artist. His sound is heavily influenced by his education and also impacted by innovative and powerhouse artists such as Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Gregory Porter, and Toni Braxton. As a performer, Jay’s mission is to inspire audiences to embrace and explore the full spectrum of their humanity, while gaining a stronger belief in themselves and what they have the potential to achieve.
