Name	Jay Kay
Height
Naionality	London
Date of Birth	30 December 1969
Place of Birth	Stretford, UK
Famous for

Kay had an identical twin brother David, but he died a few weeks after the birth. Kay has said that he still has a strong emotional connection with his brother. He was brought up by his Jewish mother Karen Kay, a cabaret singer, comedienne and impressionist who performed around the world, and stepfather James Royal. He did not meet his biological father, a man of Portuguese origin called Luís Silveira, until 2001. He was educated firstly at the independent Holmwood House School in Colchester, and then at the independent Oakham School in Rutland where he was caught smoking marijuana and expelled.

He spent six months in Thailand at the age of thirteen with his stepfather. Upon returning home, he decided to change his life and began recording demos using his drum machine and some free studio time, and writing lyrics (he was taught how to play a real drum set by Jan van Mesdag). During this time he coined the name Jamiroquai for his potential new band, based upon the name of a Native American tribe, the Iroquois, and "jam" from the word jamming, and also the distinctive Buffalo Man logo. His demos were soon spotted by the UK music label Acid Jazz with whom Kay signed a recording contract.