Early Career
Jaymz Bee was the lead singer for the alternative rock band Look People from 1985 to 1994. When Look People became the house band for Friday Night with Ralph Benmergui in 1992, Bee was the show's musical director. The band also backed up comedians such as Judy Tenuta, Harland Williams, Mark DeCarlo and Jim Carrey, performed on two Lollapalooza tours and performed extensively in Europe for several years. Following the end of the show, the band broke up and Bee began recording lounge music albums as Jaymz Bee and the Royal Jelly Orchestra.
Jaymz Bee was also the lead singer of the Bee People, (prior to his work with Look People, The Royal Jelly Orchestra and various projects) and was a founder of the Al Waxman Fan Club. The Fan Club began in the 1980s following the heyday of the King of Kensington television show. Bee, his associates Clay Tyson (son of Ian and Sylvia), Bazl Salazar, Bruce J. Scott and artist Max MacDonald would host parties and write songs in honour of Waxman. In 1988 Jaymz also appeared on the Carlos Perón album Impersonator II.
In 1985, Jaymz met a Swiss band called Chinook, who had a change of plan after arriving in Toronto and discovering they had a lot of hard rock competition. They auditioned for singers and with over forty responses, decided Jaymz Bee was best suited for the band's sound. Within a few weeks Look People was born, and took off to play Switzerland summer festivals with one important addition: a man who would become Bee's best friend and longtime collaborator, drummer Great Bob Scott. The band toured back and forth between Europe and North America many times in their nine year run. They released two EPs, three albums, one single, and several cassettes. They made a series of music videos; some shot on film with countless extras and others with a low to no budget. The video for the song "Five" received high rotation on Much Music in 1992 and made their top ten list. It was made for a mere $500...shot edited and directed by Bee.
On April 13, 1994 the band played their final two shows. A set at Club Lingerie in L.A. followed by a bizarre performance (following a band made up of porn stars) at The Palomino in North Hollywood. They parted amicably and rumours of a reunion live to this day.
Jaymz Bee returned home to Toronto and began working on a jazz (lounge) recording with childhood friend and multi-instrumentalist, Jono Grant. After recording a three song demo they were offered a gig by Molly Johnson to perform at Ontario Place for her first nation-wide AIDS benefit called "Kumbaya". The concert was broadcast coast to coast on Much Music. About this time, Jaymz and an artist ally, Melleny Melody, formed an independent label called "Nepotism Records" and the first RJO debut CD was recorded. From there Jaymz was offered a position with BMG Music Canada, running a boutique label called "Leisure Lab". He released four CDs, three for his own band (featuring a plethora of guest vocalists) and one for Calgary crooner Tim Tamashiro. The next Indie Label was the short lived "Leisure Disc" which went in to partnership with the ill-fated Songcore.
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