Dean Kay
{{short description|American songwriter}}
{{Advert|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Dean Kay
| background = non_performing_personnel
| birth_name = Dean Kermit Thompson
| alias = Dean Kay
| birth_date = {{birth date|1940|6|21|mf=y}}
| origin = Oakland, California, U.S.
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals | Piano | Guitar}}
| genre = Pop, Rock & roll, Psychedelic rock, Jazz
| occupation = Composer
| years_active = Since 1962
| label =
| associated_acts = Hank Jones
| website =
}}
Dean Kay (born June 21, 1940) is a US American entertainer, recording artist, songwriter and music publishing executive.{{cite web|author=Dean Kay |url=http://home.earthlink.net/~deankay/DKAbout.html |title=Dean Kay |publisher=Home.earthlink.net |date= |accessdate=2014-03-13}}
Early life
Dean Kay was born on June 21, 1940 in Oakland, California. He attended San Jose State University from 1958 to 1962.
Career
While a student at San Jose State University, he began his professional career as a featured entertainer alongside singing partner Hank Jones on the five-day-a-week daytime Tennessee Ernie Ford Show{{cite web|author=Dean Kay |url=http://home.earthlink.net/~deankay/ernie.html |title=ernie |publisher=Home.earthlink.net |date= |accessdate=2014-03-13}} from San Francisco. They recorded for both Del-Fi Records and RCA Victor.{{cite web|author=Dean Kay |url=http://home.earthlink.net/~deankay/HankandDeanRCA2.html |title=Hank and Dean RCA |publisher=Home.earthlink.net |date= |accessdate=2014-03-13}}
As a songwriter he laid out songs for many top recording artists, including "That's Life"{{cite web|author=Dean Kay |url=http://home.earthlink.net/~deankay/thatslife.html |title=That's Life |publisher=Home.earthlink.net |date= |accessdate=2014-03-13}} for Frank Sinatra.{{cite web|last=Votta |first=Rae |url=http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/03/18/best-frank-sinatra-songs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325205710/http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/03/18/best-frank-sinatra-songs |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 25, 2010 |title=10 Best Frank Sinatra Songs |publisher=AOL Radio Blog |date= |accessdate=2014-03-13}}
He served as the chief operating officer (COO) for Lawrence Welk's music publishing companies for 18 years.{{cite web |author=Dean Kay |url=http://home.earthlink.net/~deankay/Lawrence.html |title=Lawrence Welk's Best Kept Secret |publisher=Home.earthlink.net |date= |accessdate=2014-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313091506/http://home.earthlink.net/~deankay/Lawrence.html |archive-date=2014-03-13 |url-status=dead }} Later, he became President/CEO of PolyGram International Publishing.
Throughout his career, he has played a key role in safe guarding the creative legacies of{{clarify|date=December 2018}} Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Cole Porter, Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Johnny Horton, Don Williams, Bob McDill, Wayland Holyfield, Ricky Skaggs, Rick Springfield and many others.
Kay currently sits on the board of directors of ASCAP,{{cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/ |title=Welcome to ASCAP. The worldwide leader in performance royalties, service and advocacy for songwriters, composers and music publishers |website=Ascap.com |date=2014-02-13 |accessdate=2014-03-13}} and the ASCAP Foundation.{{cite web|url=http://www.ascapfoundation.org/ |title=The ASCAP Foundation |publisher=The ASCAP Foundation |date= |accessdate=2014-03-13}} His past roles include positions on the Boards of The National Music Publishers Association (NMPA),{{cite web|url=http://www.nmpa.org/home/index.asp |title=NMPA |website=Nmpa.org|accessdate=2014-03-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615004844/http://www.nmpa.org/home/index.asp |archivedate=2006-06-15 }} The Harry Fox Agency (HFA){{cite web|url=http://www.harryfox.com/ |title=The Harry Fox Agency |publisher=Harryfox.com |date= |accessdate=2014-03-13}} Country Music Association (CMA), Academy of Country Music (ACM), the California Copyright Conference (CCC),{{cite web|url=http://www.theccc.org/ |title=Welcome to The California Copyright Conference |publisher=Theccc.org |date= |accessdate=2014-03-13}} and the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP).{{cite web|url=http://www.aimp.org |title=Association of Independent Music Publishers |publisher=AIMP |date= |accessdate=2014-03-13}}
Kay publishes a daily email news digest called The Dean's List, which covers news about music, copyright and new technology in the entertainment industry.{{cite web|url=http://home.earthlink.net/~deankay/DeanKay_TheDean%27sList.html |title=Dean Kay - The Dean's List |publisher=Home.earthlink.net |date= |accessdate=2014-03-13}} It has a sister web publication, The ASCAP Daily Brief, which is powered by The Dean's List.{{cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/playback/2009/spring/action/dean.aspx |title=The Ascap Daily Brief Provides Valuable News and Information |publisher=Ascap.com |date=2009-03-01 |accessdate=2014-03-13}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://deankay.com Official website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kay, Dean}}
Category:American entertainers
Category:American male songwriters
Category:American male singer-songwriters