Jay Leach is a multi-talented guitarist whose experience ranges from studio work in television, commercials, and motion pictures to multiple albums and guitar books as a solo artist. Jay has many years of playing and recording work in the Los Angeles area, including work in Television and Motion Pictures, including 10 years as principal Pedal Steel Guitarist and utility musician for the TV show American Idol. Jay currently has 8 albums as a solo artist and 3 books with Mel Bay, for Acoustic Guitar, Lap Steel, and Pedal Steel. After many years in Los Angeles, Jay and his wife relocated to the Austin, Texas area. Jay’s credits for TV shows include: American Idol with Kenny Rogers, Touched by an Angel, Matlock, In The Heat of The Night, Murder She Wrote, Jake and the Fatman, cartoon episodes of Lilo & Stich, Hey Arnold, and the Disney Channel’s Dumbo’s Flying Circus; and many TV and radio commercials such as: IBM, Budweiser, Denny’s, McDonald’s, Nike, Black Angus Steak House, and Mercedes. Movie soundtrack credits include Mars Attacks, Trip to Bountiful, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Gone Fishin’, Tough Enough, A Simple Wish, Smokey and the Bandit III, Urban Cowboy, Big Business, and Six Days and Seven Nights. Jay has worked or recorded with Roy Orbison, Barry Manilow, Gladys Knight, John Denver, The Pointer Sisters, Kirk Whalum, and many others. Jay’s teaching experience includes work as a clinician, guest lecturer, or artist in residence at: California State University, Northridge; Oklahoma State University; Los Angeles Musicians Academy; College of the Canyons, California; Texas jazz & Blues Camp, and others.