He was born in Yonkers, New York, and studied music theory and classical violin for more than a decade at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Saratoga School of Orchestral Studies, Indian Hill and Brooklyn College (now Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music).
He had several hits on the United States Rhythm & Blues chart in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the biggest of which was "Let"s Start Love Over" in 1987. He was for a time the lead singer of Village People. He also played flute, keyboards and bass while in the United States Air Force, and launched his singing career while at Clarke Air Force Base in the Philippines.
Jaye toured Europe with jazz guitarist Eric Gale and singers Phyllis Hyman and Jon Lucien before taking over as "Cop" in the Village People in the mid 1980s.
He stayed with the band for two years before launching his solo career and signing to Teddy Pendergrass" production company Top Priority Records. He released his debut album, Miles, on Island Records, and the song "Let"s Start Love Over," written by Micheal Claxton, was released as a single and rose to # 5 on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues chart in late 1987.
Its follow-up, "I"ve Been a Fool Foreign You" was also a top ten Rhythm & Blues hit and has become a soul classic. Jaye also contributed, as musician, songwriter and co-producer, to Pendergrass" hit 1988 album, Joy.
Jaye released two further albums on Island, and, and continued to have hits on the Rhythm & Blues chart such as "Heaven" and "Objective" until 1991 before forming his own company, Black Tree Records, on which he released a string of increasingly jazz-influenced albums.
He has also worked with leading jazz musicians including George Duke, Roy Ayers, Grover Washington, Junior. and Branford Marsalis. Asia appeared as the little girl in the "Let"s Start Love Over" video directed by Eric Mezza.
