Jayar Mack

Born March 16, 1965 American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, arranger, and producer from Chicago, Illinois. Mack emerged in the early 1980's as a singer, songwriter and producer, getting his start in Chicago before moving to New York in 1983. He spent the next seven years being an in demand keyboardist and studio session player. He also played drums, bass and rhythm guitars during that period. In 1999, he met Edgardo Cintron, a master percussionist and timbalero, protege' of Tito Puente', Cintron heard a song Mack originally wrote for Anita Baker entitled "In My Heart" and decided he wanted it for his upcoming album. In My Heart proved to be a very pivotal song for Mack, for it went on to appear on an album entitled Hit Men which was released on Latin Cool Records in 2003. The success culminated in a Latin Grammy nomination for best Latin album. This led to DePersia securing major label distribution for the next album, released in 2005 entitled Back In The Day with Universal Records. Once again, Mack's In My Heart was chosen to be on this album. From the mid to late 2000's, Mack toured with the Latin Jazz/Soul Band, recording one more studio album with them, 2007's Latin Soul which had a #1 Latin track entitled Old School Philly Medley which Mack sang falsetto lead and backing vocals on. In the 2000's Mack has also served as Keyboardist, Vocalist, and Musical Director for many groups and artists. In 2009 Mack left the band Cintron formally, but still occasionally does reunion shows with them.