Biographie
In 1963, Jay Harvey began his entertainment career as a musician in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. Having a sharp wit and a knack for making people laugh, Harvey became a comedy writer and comedian, appearing in nightclubs, the college circuit and on television shows "Comedy Tonight," "The David Frost Show," and "The Merv Griffin Show." Harvey loved performing, but was drawn to the production side of entertainment and in 1974. Harvey moved to Los Angeles where he became a Personal Manager, representing such talent as Mark Goddard, Jean-Paul Vignon, Mickey Spillane, The Love Machine, Susan Anspach, and The Pointer Sisters.
In 1977, Harvey began his TV career working on the "Sha Na Na" television series for Executive Producer Pierre Cossette. Harvey has said "I learned a lot from Pierre. He taught me how to put a show together from just an idea. For the Sha-Na-Na show Pierre gathered an A-List production team. I was like a sponge soaking in all of their wisdom." After the series' first season, Harvey joined Wolfman Jack Television and Film Production as Executive VP of Production. During his tenure with the Wolfman, Harvey was responsible for producing several television projects including the highly rated "1979 Disco Music Awards", "The DJ Music Awards" and for the stage, the 40 cast member "Wolfman Jack's Disco Party" at The Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. In 1980, Harvey began to produce television under his own banner with his first project, "Tom Jones Live in Las Vegas" for the Showtime Cable TV Network. During the next ten years, Harvey executive produced, wrote, and produced television specials with TV's "Welcome Back Kotter" Gabe Kaplan, "The Righteous Brothers Concert Special", Don Rickles and Don Adams in "Two Top Bananas", "The Bal du Moulin Rouge", Donna Mills in "Shooting Stars", and for ABC-TV, the highly rated "Miss Hollywood Talent Search" starring Gene Kelly, John Davidson, Mariette Hartley, Bo Derek, Johnny Mathis and Jerry Seinfeld. Harvey’s first love is live theater and in the 80s, while he was still producing TV, Harvey partnered with theatrical stage producer Don Gregory who produced "Clarence Darrow" starring Henry Fonda and among other titles including the revival stage productions of "My Fair Lady" staring Rex Harrison and "Camelot" starring Richard Burton. Harvey said that he learned a lot from his late-friend
In 1990, Harvey wrote, directed and produced the nightclub act for actress Zsa Zsa Gabor when she headlined a one-week sold-out engagement in Las Vegas. In 1991, Harvey was contracted to produce entertainment at the legendary Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, then owned by a group of fellow Bostonians. From 1991 to 1996, Harvey produced dozens of stars' shows on the famed strip including; Jerry Lee Lewis, Air Supply, Joe Piscopo, Louie Anderson, Rita Rudner, Sha-Na-Na, Richard Bellzer, Jerry Vale, Keely Smith, Gallagher, Sid Caesar & Imogene Coca, David Brenner, Jackie Mason, Neil Sedaka, Connie Francis, Rich Little and Sam Kinison. In 1994, Harvey returned to the theater when he produced "Love Letters" by A.R. Gurney starring Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers at the Desert Inn Hotel in Las Vegas. In 1995, Harvey again produced the play at the Sands Hotel and then Harvey took the play and its cast on the road. In 1996, Wagner's wife, Jill St. John, joined the production and Harvey exclusively toured the USA with the Wagner and St. John team starring in "Love Letters" until 2003.
In 2004, Harvey launched into worldwide syndication, the newly digitized original Wolfman Jack radio shows. In addition, Harvey represents the estate of Wolfman Jack and is the Executive Producer of a motion picture, written by Harvey, based on the famous DJ's life. Harvey returned to theater in 2010 when he produced the hit off-Broadway musical "Nunsense" at The Las Vegas Hilton. From 2015 - 2022 Harvey produced the residency show "Rich Little: Live!" in Las Vegas.
Harvey has recently created a new television series which he'll Executive Produce. Harvey is also Executive Producer of the film, "Bob, Lucy and The Wolfman"
Jay Harvey continues to be an innovative producer, who brings his special creative talent, along with a unique understanding of the audience to all of his productions. After over sixty years in the biz, Harvey still gets excited watching one of his productions!
