In between his school hours, baseball, swimming, hockey and football practice, Jeff constantly played guitar and began writing songs in high school. “You won’t get to hear those songs, thankfully,” Jeff grins. Nonetheless, early on he know what it meant to “have your name in parentheses” where the songwriters got credit on records.

College introduced him to both jazz and classical performing. At Southwest MN State, Jeff studied cello with True Sackrison, a prodigious contemporary of Leonard Rose at the Curtis Institute. It’s also where he joined the Jazz Ensemble and got his ears into the genre’s greats. The jazz road would also earn him the guitar job in the University of MN #1 Jazz Ensemble with Dr. Frank Bencriscutto and encourage his interest in jazz arranging with ace arranger Lance Strickland (and later under Dr. Tom Ferguson at Arizona State University). It was while at the U of M that Jeff got to work with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Thad Jones and Phil Woods and make his first international tour to Mexico City to perform for then-President Lopez Portillo.

After paying dues in the steady-working club bands in the upper Midwest, including a notable year with the KO Band (which included Bob Dylan sideman Kevin Odegard, hit producer David Z and Prince drummer Bobby Z), Jeff headed west for Arizona. “I meant to wind up in Austin or LA but the music opportunities and November weather were so good in Scottsdale, I had to stay,” Jeff grins. The Dayton-Privett Band, High Noon and the Jeff Dayton Band soon followed. At Arizona State University, Jeff completed his music degree and graduated with an honors GPA.

Before the end of the decade, Jeff’s bands had won nearly every possible award Arizona had to offer, including the Wrangler Country Showdown and Marlboro Talent Roundup as well as New Times’ Best of the Decade's Best Award. In addition, Jeff wrote and recorded a song that became his first #1 record at powerhouse KNIX-FM and earned a platinum songwriting award for a George Strait cut.

Thanks to a chance meeting when Jeff was opening for Merle Haggard, the Judds and Alabama, Jeff met superstar Glen Campbell. By coincidence, Glen was a guest at Jeff’s gig the next night in Scottsdale where they staged an impromptu jam session for the thrilled private audience. A couple of days later, Glen called to offer the Jeff Dayton Band the job as his touring group and made Jeff his bandleader.

The next 15 years were an incredible mix of worldwide tours, TV and record dates, celebrity events and a mentorship Jeff is still grateful for. “I learned something from Glen every day. What he taught me as a player, singer, writer, artist and entertainer shows up in my work all the time. He’s so good a guitar player; he can play 36 holes of golf and then pick up an axe and whip most guys on their best days all warmed up.” While Glen’s musical director, Jeff conducted many symphony orchestras and even Les Brown’s Band of Renown. Highlights included shows at the White House, NBC’s Today Show and the Grand Ole Opry stage. “Glen’s gig was a constant who’s who of people we got to play music with: Gene Autry, Willie Nelson, Bob Hope, Vince Gill and dozens more.”

Jeff and his family relocated to Nashville in 2000 to allow Jeff to step up his writing and producing career. Early in 2002, at the same time Glen wanted to “cut back” on touring and reduce his band to a smaller group, Jeff wanted to focus more on songwriting and sessions on Music Row.

Almost immediately after Jeff’s final gig with Glen, Jeff was called to play guitar with Lee Greenwood’s band. For the rest of 2002 he wasa regular member of Lee’s tour.

At the top of 2003, his phone rang again with an offer to fill in with Kenny Chesney’s band for the huge Margaritas and Senoritas tour. From his first night in front of 16,000 in Madison, WI, Jeff knew he was in for a “large” time. Jeff adds, “Kenny’s tour is the best-run show I’ve ever been part of. From the huge sold-out arenas to the awesome crew and band, I loved every minute of it.”

With Chesney, Jeff appeared on Late Night w/ Conan O’Brien and was in the live video “Live Those Songs Again” and Kenny’s documentary “Road Case.” One of Jeff’s favorite benefits of the Chesney tour was songwriting with Eddie Montgomery (Montgomery/Gentry) and his hit writer/keyboardist Eddie Kilgallon.

Jeff returned as a full-time member of Lee Greenwood’s band for the next two years. . “I have never known a more supportive artist than Lee. He works harder at his career than guys half his age and is always hungry to raise the bar. That drive inspires me even more.”

Jeff has a full life with three young children, a son Brenner and twins Kenna and Kessler, plus 20-year old daughter Carrie.“All of the kids are musical and I love that," Jeff says, "but I don’t encourage them to go into music. If they want it, they’ll find their way there. I like the Earl Scruggs method: he tuned a guitar and left it on the bed and told his boys ‘don’t touch that!’ Of course, they all became stellar musicians! “

Jeff Dayton has had “an awesome musical life so far. All I’ve ever wanted out of this was to grow as a player, writer and a person, create something real and valuable and to share that with others.” It looks like he has a wealth to give away already.

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