Jay DeMarcus
DeMarcus at a ceremony to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012
DeMarcus at a ceremony to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012
Background information
Birth nameStanley Wayne DeMarcus Jr.
Born (1971-04-26) April 26, 1971
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
OriginNashville, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresCountry pop, contemporary Christian
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s)
  • Bass guitar
  • keyboards
  • guitar
  • drums
  • vocals
Years active1992–present
LabelsLyric Street, Big Machine
Formerly ofEast to West, Rascal Flatts
Spouse(s)
(m. 2004)
Websiterascalflatts.com

Jay DeMarcus (born Stanley Wayne DeMarcus Jr.; on April 26, 1971) is an American bassist, vocalist, pianist, record producer and songwriter.[1] From 1999 to 2021, he was a member of the country pop group Rascal Flatts.

Early life

DeMarcus was born in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from the Tree of Life Christian Schools and Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center in Columbus while living with his mother and sister. He also has a half-sister from his father's side of the family. DeMarcus attended Lee College in Cleveland, Tennessee, from 1990 to 1992. At the time, he traveled and performed as a keyboard player in the Christian music group New Harvest, led by Danny Murray.

Career

DeMarcus co-founded the contemporary Christian music group East to West and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1993. In 1997, after East to West disbanded, he called his second cousin, Gary LeVox,[2] with whom he played when they were younger, and convinced him to come to Nashville and provide some harmonies on Michael English's album Gospel, which he was producing. They engineered the album together, and became English's backup band and road manager.[3] The album was nominated for the Dove Award for Inspirational Song of the Year. He soon became bandleader for Chely Wright. Eventually, he met Joe Don who is now the group's other member. DeMarcus called Joe Don to fill in for a guitarist who had left the band one night.

In addition to producing for English, he has also produced albums for James Otto, Jo Dee Messina, Austins Bridge, Chicago and others.

On March 4, 2010, DeMarcus and his band mates were guest stars on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, appearing as themselves. In the episode titled "Unshockable" (10.14), he is electro-shocked by his bass guitar during a performance at a Vegas club, leaving him with total amnesia which he recovers from at the end of the episode. DeMarcus has continued to explore his acting career, appearing in the film A Country Christmas, as well as episodes of ABC's Nashville and Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva.

In October 2018, DeMarcus founded the label Red Street Records, an independent Christian music label.[4]

Personal life

On May 15, 2004, DeMarcus married Allison Alderson, a former beauty queen who has held the titles Miss Tennessee 1999 and Miss Tennessee USA 2002. DeMarcus met her on the set while filming the video for the Rascal Flatts song, "These Days". Their first child, Madeline Leigh, was born in December 2010.[5] In July 2012, he and Allison welcomed son Dylan Jay.[6][7][8] He also has another daughter from a previous relationship, whom he placed for adoption because he and his then-girlfriend were not ready to parent the baby.[9][10]

Discography

Non-Rascal Flatts album credits

YearAlbumArtistCredit
1998 Gospel Michael English Producer, engineer, bass, acoustic guitar
2003 Some Things Never Change Mark Lowry Keyboards
2006 She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool: Tribute to Barbara Mandrell Various artists Bass
Ten Brian McKnight Bass, piano
Whatever We Wanna LeAnn Rimes Bass
Chicago XXX Chicago Producer, arranger, engineer, guitar, keyboards, vocals
2008 Sunset Man James Otto Producer, bass
The Prodigal Comes Home Michael English Arranger, vocal producer
2010 Unmistakable: Love Jo Dee Messina Producer
Times Like These Austins Bridge Producer
2011 New Day The Martins Producer, vocal arrangement, guitar, keyboards
2012 New to This Town Kix Brooks Producer
Tuskegee Lionel Richie Bass
Jennette McCurdy Jennette McCurdy Producer
iCarly: iSoundtrack II [Original TV Soundtrack] Various artists Producer
Brighter One Marshall Hall Producer, electric guitar
2013 Alabama & Friends Alabama Producer, bass
Love Is Stronger Jason Crabb Producer, bass
Some People Change Michael English Producer, engineer, bass
Surrender Adam Crabb Bass
2014 Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute to Mötley Crüe Various artists Producer, bass, piano
2017 Sing It Now Songs of Hope & Faith Reba McEntire Producer

Filmography

Film and television appearances
Year Title Role Notes
2006 Yes, Dear Himself Episode: "The Limo"
2009 Hannah Montana: The Movie Rascal Flatts
2010 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Himself Episode: "Unshockable"
2013 A Country Christmas Chim Ritchels
2014 Drop Dead Diva Trevor Episode: "First Date"
2015 Nashville Himself Episode: "Forever and for Always"
2016 Sharknado: The 4th Awakens Zimmerman, Shark World Hotel manager TV movie
2018 Chrisley Knows Best Himself Episode: "No Men For Old Country"
2020 DeMarcus Family Rules Himself

Awards and nominations for producing

Year Association Category Work Result
1999 GMA Dove Awards Inspirational Album of the Year GospelMichael English Nominated
2011 Grammy Awards Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album Times Like TheseAustins Bridge Nominated
2013 GMA Dove Awards Southern Gospel Album of the Year Love Is StrongerJason Crabb Won
2014 Southern Gospel Performance of the Year "Love Is Stronger" – Jason Crabb Nominated
2014 Inspirational Album of the Year Four:Twelve – No Other Name Nominated

References

  1. "Live Daily Jay DeMarcus interview". Archived from the original on 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  2. "James Otto: Putting the Pieces Together". Country Weekly.com. 2008-03-24. Archived from the original on 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
  3. Mueller, Walt. "Rascal Flatts: Taking kids to the country". Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. Archived from the original on 30 August 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  4. "Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus to Helm New Christian Label, Red Street Records". The Boot. 24 October 2018.
  5. "Jay DeMarcus Welcomes Daughter Madeline Leigh". people.com.
  6. "Jay DeMarcus Welcomes Son Dylan Jay". people.com.
  7. "Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus Raising His Kids to 'Know Who Jesus Is'". www2.cbn.com. 20 August 2018.
  8. "Rascal Flatts Drummer Jay DeMarcus Opened up About Placing Daughter for Adoption". www.distractify.com. 18 August 2020.
  9. "Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus reveals 'heartbreak' over giving daughter up for adoption". www.usatoday.com.
  10. "Jay DeMarcus Reveals He Previously Placed a Daughter for Adoption: 'I Wanted to Be in Her Life'". people.com.
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