JAY BRAGG: A RENAISSANCE OF AMERICAN ENTERTAINMENT
Happy Music Specialist Since 1985
A third-generation songwriter and showman with the soul of a musical historian and the heart of a modern innovator, Jay Bragg is more than an artist—he's a living bridge between America's rich entertainment heritage and contemporary musical expression. Born into a century-old musical lineage outside Boston, with musical DNA that includes his mother running sound for his father's gospel band during his prenatal development, Bragg has transformed the traditions of Vaudeville, Tin Pan Alley, and classic Americana into a vibrant, multifaceted artistic journey.
The Artistic Landscape
Bragg's creative universe spans multiple interconnected projects, each a testament to his profound understanding of American musical roots. From the honky-tonk authenticity of The Honky Tonk Dream and North of Nashville to the whimsical joy of King Kazoo & The Reindeer Band, the immersive theatrical experience of Jay Bragg Presents: New Vaudeville and his intimate singer-songwriter solo shows, he crafts performances that are simultaneously nostalgic and groundbreaking.
A virtuoso who has mastered over 5,000 songs across genres—blues, jazz, swing, gospel, folk, and country and a published composer of hundreds more—Bragg doesn't just perform music; he curates experiences. His encyclopedic musical knowledge and third-generation entertainment DNA, enriched by early exposure to gospel, blues, and jazz traditions, allow him to weave intricate musical narratives that transport audiences to different eras while feeling utterly contemporary.
Musical Credentials and Prolific Output
A multi-talented artist, Bragg has established himself as a prolific songwriter, producer, and performer. With 13 studio albums to his credit, he has demonstrated exceptional versatility as both a composer and record producer. A Nashville-based artist who has performed over 3,600 shows nationwide, he has shared stages with country legends like Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton, and Lake Street Dive. His band The Honky Tonk Dream earned critical acclaim from Saving Country Music, while his holiday performances and A Songwriter's Christmas tour have garnered international recognition and a publishing deal with Howling Music for placement in film and TV.
Acoustic Singing Telegram: Healing Through Music
Beyond traditional performance, Bragg has revived the vintage art of the Acoustic Singing Telegram, bringing music to places medicine sometimes cannot reach. Rooted in the gospel tradition's belief in music as healing ministry, this unique service is a testament to his belief in music's transformative power—bringing joy, comfort, and healing energy directly to hospital rooms, homes, and workplaces. For Bragg, the ability to transform someone's day through a personalized musical moment represents the sacred tradition of bringing comfort through song, creating ripples of positivity that extend far beyond the final note.
Jay Bragg Presents: New Vaudeville - A Tradition Reimagined
Central to Bragg's current artistic mission is New Vaudeville—a groundbreaking project that resurrects the variety show format while preserving the authentic multicultural spirit of golden-age American entertainment. This isn't mere nostalgia, but a sophisticated reimagining of entertainment that honors the actual diverse traditions that made American entertainment revolutionary: 70% genuine historical spirit, 20% contemporary accessibility, and 10% pure transformative magic.
Each performance is a meticulously crafted journey featuring musical performances rooted in jazz, blues, and gospel traditions, alongside magicians, dancers, and specialty performers that challenge and delight modern audiences. Drawing from his deep understanding of how gospel, blues, jazz, and vaudeville existed as one interconnected cultural ecosystem, Bragg creates experiences that bridge America's authentic musical heritage with contemporary artistry.
Jay Bragg Presents: Christmas in New Vaudeville
The evolution of his celebrated A Songwriter's Christmas tour, this holiday spectacular combines Bragg's 20+ original Christmas compositions with the theatrical elements of New Vaudeville. Blending sacred and secular traditions that have always defined authentic American holiday celebrations, the show creates an immersive winter wonderland experience that appeals to audiences from one to ninety-two. Drawing from both his gospel heritage and sophisticated jazz training, Bragg's Christmas music bridges cultural and generational divides while maintaining the pure magic of the holiday spirit.
Philosophical Approach
What unites Bragg's diverse projects is a commitment to joy, authenticity, and the transformative power of performance. Whether he's performing traditional country at Nashville's most iconic venues, creating whimsical holiday music, producing records, or curating New Vaudeville, his mission remains consistent: to spread happiness and preserve the nuanced, multicultural traditions of American entertainment while honoring the gospel, blues, and jazz foundations that inform his songwriting, guide his song interpretations, and color his performance style.
While many contemporary artists strip away the Black musical influences that created American popular music, Bragg preserves and honors these traditions as the foundation of sophisticated American entertainment, creating cultural bridge-building through music rather than appropriation.
Beyond the Stage
When not performing, Bragg continues his family's legacy of bringing joy, regularly performing for hospice patients and collaborating with his octogenarian musician father. His upcoming projects for 2025 include new New Vaudeville music releases, expanded touring for both regular and holiday programming, and continuing his celebrated Christmas in New Vaudeville tour.
Jay Bragg isn't just an artist—he's a cultural curator, a musical storyteller, and a keeper of America's authentic multicultural entertainment traditions, preserving the rich heritage that shaped him from before birth and carrying it forward for future generations.