Former Ironwood man to perform Saturday

IRONWOOD — Former Ironwood resident, guitarist Aaron Jay, will perform at the Historic Ironwood Theatre Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The concert will feature country, rock and blues music.

“Jay grew up in a musical family, so he knew that music would be the road he would travel,” Theater Director Bruce Greenhill said. “His dad, Johnny Jay, and uncles, Max Lee and Mike, were known as ‘Johnny Jay and the Jay Birds.’”

Jay’s father and Uncle Max helped pique his interest in playing and performing publicly, according to a news release. Jay traveled and performed with his father, meeting many well-known musicians including Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, The Eagles and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Jay called the Ironwood area home during most of the 1970s, performing in various local bands, including the Entertainers, the house band at Big Powderhorn Mountain.

“Jay had the opportunity to back up some headline acts at Rhinelander’s Hodag Country Fest, including Big Al Downing and Penny DeHaven,” Greenhill said. “Getting to meet and chat with some of the big country stars and playing on stage with them inspired Jay to continue his musical journey. In the 1980s, Jay recorded several songs on Paragon Records label, including ‘Blue Rendezvous’ and ‘Break a Heart Today.’”

Tickets are available at the theater’s box office, by phone at 906-932-0618 or online at ironwoodtheatre.net.