JAY BRAGG: KEEPING VAUDEVILLE’S SPIRIT ALIVE

A third-generation entertainer with showbusiness in his DNA, Nashville-based singer songwriter Jay Bragg carries forward the grand tradition of American Vaudeville that his grandparents pioneered on stages across the nation in the 1930s. His signature blend of vintage showmanship and contemporary artistry creates an experience he calls "happy music for anyone looking to get happy."

Born outside Boston into a century-old musical lineage, Jay channels the sophisticated spirit of Tin Pan Alley while embracing the warmth of traditional country, creating performances that transport audiences to a golden age of American entertainment. Since his stage debut at age five, he's mastered the art of the traveling showman, performing over 3,600 shows nationwide, including tours with country legends Alan Jackson and Chris Stapleton.

As one of the few modern performers keeping alive treasured entertainment traditions like the Singing Telegram, Jay has become a torchbearer for classic American showmanship. His encyclopedic knowledge of over 5,000 popular songs spanning the last century along with hundreds of his own compositions allows him to seamlessly weave together styles from the Great American Songbook - blues, jazz, swing, gospel, folk, and country - creating performances that feel both timeless and vital to the moment.

His reverence for vintage entertainment shines through in his latest venture, "King Kazoo & The Reindeer Band," a whimsical North Pole act that draws inspiration from Vaudeville and Tin Pan Alley traditions. This theatrical production joins his celebrated "A Songwriter's Christmas" tour, which has earned him international recognition and a publishing deal placing his original holiday compositions in film, TV, and commercials globally.

When not on stage, Jay continues a family tradition of bringing joy to others by performing weekly for hospice patients with his guitar, harmonicas and signature kazoo - an instrument that's become central to his artistic identity. He also frequently performs with his father, an octogenarian professional musician, keeping their family's entertainment legacy alive.

Looking ahead to 2025, Jay will expand his creative horizons with new music releases, the launch of "The Joy of Summer" and “The New Vaudeville” concert series and the fifth anniversary of "A Songwriter's Christmas." He's also developing a storybook version of "King Kazoo & The Reindeer Band," further extending his mission of spreading joy through multiple artistic mediums.