In 1963, Jay Harvey began his entertainment career as a musician in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. Combining music with a sharp wit, 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. In 1974, Harvey moved to Los Angeles where he became a Personal Manager, representing such talent as 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 Pierre Cossette. Harvey has said "I learned a lot from Pierre. He taught me how to put a show together from just an idea. He gathered an A List production team and I was like a sponge soaking in all of their wisdom." After the first season of shows, 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 then fledgling Showtime Cable TV Network. For the next ten years, Harvey executive produced, wrote, and produced television specials with TV's "Welcome Back Kotter" Gabe Kaplan, "The Righteous Brothers Anniversary Special," Don Rickles and Don Adams in "Two Top Bananas," "The Bal du Moulin Rouge," Donna Mills in "Shooting Stars," and for ABC, the highly rated "Miss Hollywood Talent Search" starring Gene Kelly, John Davidson, Mariette Hartley, Bo Derek, Johnny Mathis and Jerry Seinfeld.
In 1990, Harvey wrote, directed and produced the nightclub act for 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, 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 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 on the road.
In 1996, Wagner's wife, Jill St. John joined the cast and Harvey exclusively toured the USA with the Wagner and St. John team starring in "Love Letters" until 2003. In 2004, Harvey began to launch 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. From 2010 – 2013, at The Las Vegas Hilton, Harvey produced the hit off-Broadway musical "Nunsense” and Rich Little starring in “Jimmy Stewart and Friends.” In 2015, in Las Vegas, Harvey is producing “Rich Little: Live!” at The Tropicana and “Nunsense” at the Kahunaville Dinner Theater at the Treasure Island Hotel.
Harvey has also recently returned to producing television and has developed a unique television series which he’ll Executive Produce and he’s also Executive Producer on two movies for TV, one written by Harvey. He’s also Executive Producer of a documentary on The Wolfman Jack Radio Show.
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 fifty years in the biz, Harvey still gets excited when he hears an audience applauding one of his shows.
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