About the Creator: Jefferson Jay

Headshot of Jefferson Jay in messy pigtails with neatly trimmed facial hair.

Jefferson Jay has spent the better part of his adult life doing things no one’s ever done before—no small feat in the 21st century.

Jefferson Jay leads a class of smiling elementary school children all playing ukuleles.

Jefferson Jay teaches music therapy to elementary school children.

He’s a talented emcee, hosting weekly shows and special events, captivating audiences with wit and wisdom while delivering entertainment. He was recently the emcee at The Great Cut, a production by The Longhairs, in which he orchestrated events on the main stage for 14 hours, and was instrumental in helping break the Guinness World Record for the most hair donated for charity in history.

Band poster featuring acoustic guitar art: Jefferson Jay plays acoustic every Thursday Night 7-9PM Portugalia 4839 Newport Ave. San Diego, CA. Poster design by John Warner. The six grinning members of The Jefferson Jay Band pose holding their instruments. Jefferson is a creator, having penned well over 1,000 songs and he’s been a music teacher and a music therapist, changing lives through education and kindness for over 15 years. He has fronted The Jefferson Jay Band since 2001. Their seven records are available now on most streaming services, including Spotify.

Jefferson’s unmatched 24 Hours of Free Music concerts, offered in ‘03, ‘05, ‘08, ‘09, brought local artists to larger audiences and made music available all day for anyone to attend and enjoy. His work The Operation 365 is the largest daily video project in internet history according to The Huffington Post. Offered twice in 2011 and 2016, it featured three videos and a blog post each day for an entire year. A true collaborator, Jefferson has spent over a decade enriching the San Diego music scene through La Jolla’s Athenaeum Music & Arts Library’s Acoustic Evenings series, which feature both established and lesser-known artists.

The Family: Leanne Pearl, Jefferson Jay, and newborn son Everett.

LEANNE PEARL, JEFFERSON JAY & EVERY

Jefferson founded The San Diego Music Hall of Fame® in 2018 to honor the rich history of music in San Diego County. A man who truly believes in making the world a better place for his son and all of us, Jefferson is also a loving new father. His first child, Everett, was born in June 2019. Jefferson pours his good vibes into spreading joy through music, art, and community. Help make his latest dream, a truly inclusive musical holiday celebration, a reality!