David Jaymes

David Jaymes was the bass player for 1980's Latin American pop band Modern Romance, which he formed with Geoff Deane.

The pair had previously been part of the 'Leyton Buzzards', an English punk/rock band that produced one minor hit, 'Saturday Night (Beneath the Plastic Palm Trees)'. The single reached No. 53 in the UK. The 'Leyton Buzzards' also featured keyboard player Milton Reame-James, formerly of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel. The band released five singles in total and one album - 'Jellied Eels to Record Deals' - and recorded four sessions with John Peel between 1978 and 1980. Their final single was a cover of 'Can't Get Used To Losing You'. The band were signed to major label Chrysalis Records who, at the time had also signed Spandau Ballet.

In 1980 David and Geoff Deane recruited Robbie Jaymes (David's brother and keyboard player), Paul Gendler (guitarist), John Du Prez (trumpet player and writer of movie soundtracks like the Rob Lowe vehicle Oxford Blues (1984) and A Fish Called Wanda (1988)), and drummer Andrew Kyriacou, who quickly replaced Tony Gainsborough. They were signed to WEA Records.

David was the band's founder member, main songwriter, bassist, and also provided vocals, although Geoff Deane was lead vocalist. Modern Romance released their first run of singles in what is known as the 'Deane/Jaymes' era, between 1980 and 1982. 'Modern Romance' (1980) and 'Tonight' (1981) were the band's first singles. Their first UK chart hits, however, were the salsa-driven 'Everybody Salsa' (No. 12) and 'Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey' (No. 10) both in 1981. They also released their first album 'Adventures in Clubland' that year.

They had a modest hit with 'Queen of the Rapping Scene / Nothing Ever Goes the Way You Plan' (1982), which reached No. 37 in the UK. Its b-side, 'Can You Move' or 'Can You Dance' nevertheless reached No. 2 on the U.S. dance charts. 'By the Way ... (I'm Still in Love with You)' followed in 1982, and then one more top twenty hit, a cover version of the famous 'Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White' (No. 15). Geoff Deane would then leave Modern Romance and concentrate on writing screenplays for British TV.

David replaced Deane with Michael J. Mullins, who had provided backing vocals for the band on 'Adventures in Clubland' and the single 'By the Way'. They released their first single of the Jaymes/Mullins era at the end of 1982 in time for Christmas. 'Best Years of Our Lives' would become the band's biggest hit, making the UK top 5 (No. 4). The song has since made it onto a myriad of compilation albums.

David and Modern Romance would then score a string of hits following the success of 'Best Years of Our Lives', and 1983 would be their watershed year. The following singles made top ten-top twenty appearances: 'High Life' (No. 8), 'Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm' (No. 14), the uncharacteristic ballad 'Walking in the Rain' (No. 7), and 'Good Friday' (No. 97). They had two further hits in 1983 with the albums 'Trick of the Light' (No. 53) and 'Party Tonight' (No. 45), the latter being a Christmas compilation released on the Ronco Label.

1983 saw many magazine and TV appearances including The Krankies Klub (1982), The Keith Harris Show (1982), Rod and Emu's Saturday Special (1983), Get It Together (1977) and further appearances on Top of the Pops (1964). Radio One also used the songs 'Best Years of Our Lives', 'High Life', and 'Good Friday' as advertisement jingles over the Christmas period. Modern Romance were holding their own alongside bands like Spandau Ballet, The Human League, Heaven 17, and Duran Duran.

David, apart from having significant success as a songwriter and musician, has since moved into the management side of the business. He has contributed as songwriter to the movie Shrek (2001) and as Music Supervisor on the film Fascination (2004) starring Jacqueline Bisset and James Naughton. He has worked with John Du Prez composing music for advertisements and feature films. David has managed artists such as 'Sinead O'Connor', Justin Adams, Miles Hunt, Republica, and Drum Club. He has also worked as consultant for the likes of Harry Nilsson, Jimmy Webb, George Fenton, and Chuck Mangione.

He recently worked with a host of musicians on the Haiti earthquake disaster single 'I Put A Spell on You' (2010), including Shane MacGowan, Nick Cave, and Johnny Depp.

David has carved out a successful career in the music, TV, and film industry as a singer, songwriter, musician, consultant, and manager.