Ebony Tay
Ebony Tay is honestly surprised that in 2006, there are still literally “firsts” happening for black women in entertainment—but considering the wealth and impact of the 21st Century Renaissance Woman’s growing slate of accomplishments, there’s no doubt she’s just being modest. So let’s allow the multi-talented singer, songwriter, composer and film producer’s breakthrough achievements to speak for themselves.

In 2005, Tay hit the Top 20 of Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play Chart with New York DJ Mike Cruz’s explosive remix of “Jesus By 45,” the unforgettable and controversial end theme to director Tommy Stovall’s critically acclaimed, award winning independent film Hate Crime. Understating their praise, Top Billboard DJs began describing her voice as “the soul machine,” and saying “the lady is in the mix.” Others have compared her to gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. “Situation,” a hot new acoustic funk track from her upcoming independent recording Stories Of The Firehorse, is scheduled to be featured on an episode of NBC’s Scrubs.

While sharing the lofty chart territory as an artist with superstars like Madonna—and causing a stir with the provocative video to “Jesus By 45,” directed by John Landrum (best known for his work with Radiohead)—the Canadian born Tay also broke ground as one of only a handful of successful black women in the competitive, male dominated world of film composing.

Commenting on her riveting score for Hate Crime, which features a soul stirring blend of classical, African tribal music and religious choir influences, Tay says, “I wrote the score from a dual perspective as both a composer and a singer/songwriter, starting with my piano and guitar but envisioning other instruments along the way. The premise of the score is a mix of traditional orchestral elements with more eclectic flavors. Working with The Section Quartet, I created the traditional material in the spirit of Wagner and Beethoven, and reflected the whole social tribalism theme with African sounds. I mixed the African thumb piano with electric guitar, and added tabla and a few clay drums and cellos. I applied each instrument to a different character in the film. All of the musicians put so much passion into the sessions. The movie may be called Hate Crime, but there was so much love behind it.”

Tay, who drew on some deep-seated personal life experiences to create her masterful score, is also breaking ground for women as a film producer. As co-producer of Hate Crime, she is currently involved in the film's distribution, which will include a 2006 theatrical release in major U.S. and Canadian markets via Pasidg Productions and a DVD release through Image Entertainment. A testament to the power of love and the destructive nature of radical religion based prejudice, the film was named Best Feature at the 2005 Sedona International Film Festival and placed as Official Selections at Los Angeles’ OUTFEST and the Palm Springs Film Festival. Tay and her own ensemble performed music from the film live at many of these events.

In addition, Tay is fulfilling her longtime dream of recording an indie solo album. She is currently hard at work on Stories of the Firehorse at Capitol Studios with engineer and six-time Grammy Award winner Jimmy Hoyson, who is best known for his work with Ben Harper and The Blind Boys. An eclectic acoustic storytelling project spotlighting her brilliant songwriting and performing, the collection features top session musicians James Gadson (Otis Redding, Beck, Paul McCartney), Lenny Castro, John Pena, Matt Lawg (Alanis Morrisette), Jeremy Rumonoz (who wrote "I Try" with Macy Gray) and Jamie Mulheulbrac (Seal). The project is being mixed by Steve Genewick, the assistant engineer on Ray Charles’ multiple-Grammy winning Genius Loves Company; Genewick’s credits include Norah Jones, Diana Krall and Usher.

“After starting the project as an earthy singer/songwriter record, I shifted gears and decided to go into the studio with legendary musicians and cut this ‘stripped down acoustic funk vibe,’” says Tay. “After Steve mixed it, the feedback was incredible. My album is about independence, and that’s so fitting based on the success I’ve had thus far breaking into the industry as an indie artist and film producer. One of my idols has always been Michael Stipe from REM, who is known as a rock star but has also produced films like Being John Malkovich. I also admire Erin Brockovich for being a female maverick in a male dominated business, just as I’m trying to be.”

Composing music several years ago for a short film about domestic violence in conjunction with the premiere of the Clint Eastwood film Absolute Power, Tay--then an upstart in the world of film composing--received a life-changing piece of advice from the legendary actor/director: "Never work on anything you're not passionate about."

A passionate career in the film and music industries were simply dreams throughout a very unique childhood in the tiny town of South Porcupine, Ontario. At ten days old, the Asian-Jamaican girl was adopted by a Scotch-Irish gold miner and his Finnish wife. Her adopted mother took in 44 foster children over the years, in addition to having 10 children of her own, who were Tay's older brothers and sisters as she grew up. Though she grew up poor, she recently learned that she comes from one of the most prominent political families in Jamaica.

Tay was writing songs by age seven, and one of her first jobs in high school was as a musician doing singing telegrams. Hate Crime’s opening theme “Springbank Park”/“Lawson Road” draw upon her experiences of watching young people struggle with their own sexuality. For her, London, Ontario is a key city in her development because of this renowned park. Though she was always drawn to music, her first great passion was athletics. She was nationally ranked in Canada as an 800 and 1500-meter runner during her high school years until an injury slowed her. During her recovery, she got hooked on bodybuilding and later evolved into a top competitive triathlete. Her life changed radically after a two-year period during which she suffered bouts of blindness, paralysis and deafness. All of these contributed to her pursuit of a deeper spirituality and a new focus on her musical career.

After struggling for years to sing in a conventional woman's alto range, Tay had an emotional musical breakthrough while working with well-known producer David Kershenbaum (Cat Stevens, Joe Jackson, Tracy Chapman). After numerous trials and errors, they realized that her voice was a baritone, and this demanded that she play a rare instrument: a modified Martin half-bass/half-guitar, customized for her by master guitar maker Dan Neely. In 1999, record mogul Chris Blackwell (Bob Marley, U2, PJ Harvey) signed her to a deal, and she was later signed by EMI Capitol and worked with Chris Venner (Nine Inch Nails) and Krish Sarma (Perry Farrell). Her eclectic resume also includes opening dates in Europe for Hall & Oates and Dick Dale.

“The material on Stories of The Firehorse is very honest and autographical about the poverty and oppression I experienced and witnessed growing up,” says Tay, whose collection includes the tracks “Ghetto Soul,” “Funk That Noise” and “Jamaican Prayer.” “When I was 15, I was a student living on welfare so I know what it’s like to be the underdog. I like to call my music blue-collar soul, as if you took Bob Marley, George Clinton and Prince, blended them together and made them economically conscious. It’s stripped down, raw acoustic funk and it’s a way for the world to get to know the real me.”

Tay is managed by Les Garland, one of the co-founders of MTV, VH1 and The Box who is now running TubeTV.com.

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