Jay Lawrence on 54 Years of Music, Touring with Legends, and Finding Home in Lehi, Utah

Professional drummer Jay Lawrence on touring with Liberace, Cher, and Sammy Davis Jr., recording 130 Broadway shows, composing hymns, and finding home in Lehi, Utah for 21 years.

Work Hard Mortgage

Work Hard Mortgage

Phone: (801) 228-0937

Email: [email protected]

NMLS# 269043

Company NMLS# 2396714

  • Home
  • About Work Hard Mortgage & Roots & Branches of Lehi
  • Episodes
  • Jay Lawrence: 54 Years of Music & Lehi History | Roots & Branches
  • Be a Guest on Our Podcast | Work Hard Mortgage
  • Contact Work Hard Mortgage | Lehi, Utah
  • Mayor Mark Johnson on Leadership, Growth, and the Future of Lehi, Utah | Roots & Branches of Lehi
  • Paige Albrecht on Public Service, Parks & Preserving Old Lehi
  • Lara Bangerter on Lehi History & Heritage Day | Roots & Branches
  • Doug Webb Lehi High School Principal Education Leadership
  • Phil Hanks on Ephraim Hanks, Pioneer Heritage & a Life of Service | Roots & Branches
  • Charlene Freestone on Parenting, Child Safety & Building Community in Lehi | Roots & Branches
  • Steven Boyack on Lehi Link, Civic Tech & Community | Roots & Branches
  • Rebecca Betty Broadbent Store History Lehi
  • Merrilee Boyack on Lehi Community Leadership | Roots & Branches
  • Quinn Allred on Lehi History, Vietnam Service, and the American Legion | Roots & Branches of Lehi
  • Mike Southwick: Lehi Rodeo & City Council History | Roots & Branches
  • Julie Rafiner Bridal Center Lehi Main Street
  • Darren Paul Lehi Police Chief Community Safety
  • Keith Suzanne Pulham Lehi Community Legacy
  • Jeremy Craft Lehi Fire Chief: Emergency Services, Community & Growth
  • Jeremy Craft Lehi Fire Chief | Roots & Branches Podcast
  • John Wallwork on Education & Skyridge High School | Roots & Branches of Lehi
  • Tim Brantley: Lehi High School Principal on Education & Legacy
  • Heather Tucker & the Lehi Literacy Center | Roots & Branches
  • Heather Newell on Civic Service & Preserving Lehi's History
  • Chris Condie on Lehi Growth, Service & Future | RB-021
  • Jeanne Marie Burroughs on Lehi Schools, PTA & District Split | Roots & Branches
  • Jared Peterson on Lehi Heritage & Rodeo | Roots & Branches
  • Jennifer Connolly & Aspen Kahoush: Miss Lehi 2024 Interview
  • Sally Francom: Lehi Free Press History | Roots & Branches
  • Kay Christofferson on Lehi Roots & Public Service | Roots & Branches
  • Phil Wasden Lehi Chaplain Resilience Service
  • Ken Greenwood: Pioneer Roots, Main Street & Lehi Legacy
  • Melanie Busath on Lehi City Events & Community Traditions | Roots & Branches
  • Donna Barnes on Lehi Farming, Education, and Reviving the Lehi Free Press
  • Soul of a Small Town: Lehi Farmland, Education & Change | RB-032
  • Kate Daly: Miss Lehi, Roundup Week & Community Service | Roots & Branches
  • Buddy Deimler on Agricultural Education, FFA, and a Lifetime of Mentorship in Lehi, Utah | Roots & Branches of Lehi
  • John Jay Harris Lehi Education Purple Pig Pizza
  • Mike Willes: Lehi Holiday Lights, 40 Years in Construction | Roots & Branches
  • Gary Rogers: Rogers Automotive, Lehi History & Family Legacy | Roots & Branches
  • Nathan Bushman: Lehi Farming Roots, FFA & Education | RB-038
  • Dave Rhonda Nerden Lehi Rodeo Volleyball
  • Kurt Elison & The Lehi Arts Council | Roots & Branches RB-040
  • Becky White: 30 Years Teaching, Mascot Bowl & Bear Hugs for Kids | Lehi, UT
  • Rick Howard on 40 Years of EMS & Fire Service in Lehi, Utah | Roots & Branches
  • Jean Hatch on Miss Lehi, Arts Council & Community Service | Lehi, UT
  • Brent Knudson Fkosh Bakery Lehi Utah
  • Reed and Katie Madsen on Family History, Faith, and Finding Belonging in Lehi, Utah | Roots & Branches of Lehi
  • Melissa Everett on BYU Pathway Worldwide, Global Education, and Lifelong Learning from Lehi, Utah | Roots & Branches of Lehi
  • Jordan Harmon: Angel Studios, The Chosen & Values-Driven Entertainment | Lehi
  • Joan Collette Nurse Humanitarian Lehi Service Legacy
  • Andy Hadfield Lehi High Football Coach Resilience Community
  • Wylene Benson: 40 Years of Homeownership & Utah Real Estate Advice
  • Nikki Lemon on 20+ Years of Utah Real Estate, Creative Homeownership Strategy, and Leading Buyers Through Fear | From Rents to Roots
  • Hellewell Family: Multi-Generational Homeownership in Eagle Mountain | RR-003
  • Matthew & Kaylee Kendall: USDA Rural Loan Homeownership Story
  • Authenticity in Utah Real Estate | From Rents to Roots
  • Chris Mikkelson: Utah County Real Estate, Authenticity & Guatemala Service | RR-005
  • Darcy Oliva on Starter Homes & Real Estate | RR-006
  • Ammon Childs on 17 Years in Utah Real Estate & Building Wealth | RR-007
  • Boo Maddox on Utah Real Estate & Homeownership | RR-008
  • Brent Everett on Utah Environmental Leadership, Lehi Planning, and a Life of Service | Roots & Branches of Lehi
  • Savannah Romney: Utah Real Estate & First-Time Buyer Tips | RR-041
  • Tim Leary: From Bartender to Builder — Preventative Maintenance & Trust
  • Joseph Woodbury on Neighbor, Peer-to-Peer Storage, and Creative Real Estate Income | From Rents to Roots
  • SuAnne Hoffman: 30 Years of Utah Real Estate & Market Cycles
  • Wade Peterson on Utah Homebuilding & Affordability | RR-028
  • Angel Gutierrez on Immigrant Roots, Real Estate Fundamentals, and Building Long-Term Wealth in Utah | From Rents to Roots RR-027
  • Masyn Barney: House Hacking & $11K Utah Home | RR-026
  • Zef Martinez on Helping First-Time Buyers in Utah Real Estate | RR-025
  • Michael Perry: Real Estate Investing & Why Now Is the Time to Buy in Utah
  • Sawyer Porterfield Real Estate Investing Utah Homeownership
  • Joel Pack & DJ Jones on Utah Real Estate | RR-022
  • Tony Acosta: 1% Commissions & Utah Real Estate | RR-021
  • Clint Allred: From Hospital Room to House Hacker | RR-020
  • Kenya Arnett on Real Estate, Buying While Pregnant, and Why "Big Is Not Bad" | RR-019
  • Justin Hutchins on Utah Real Estate, Mentorship, and Creating Homeownership Legacy | RR-018
  • Jenelle McColm Real Estate Boot Camp & Homeownership | From Rents to Roots
  • Ishmael Villarroel: Utah Real Estate Discipline | RR-016
  • Jeff Demke: Flipping Homes, New Construction & First-Time Buyers | RR-015
  • Loreana Pachano: Immigration to Homeownership in Utah | RR-014

Jay Lawrence: 54 Years of Music & Lehi History | Roots & Branches

Professional drummer Jay Lawrence on touring with Liberace, Cher, and Sammy Davis Jr., recording 130 Broadway shows, composing hymns, and finding home in Lehi, Utah for 21 years.

Jay Lawrence on 54 Years of Music, Touring with Legends, and Finding Home in Lehi, Utah

On This Page

Sponsored By
Resource for Listeners

Who Is Jay Lawrence, and Why Does His Story Matter to Lehi?

Watch the Full Interview

Episode Overview

Guest Name

Role in Lehi

Time Periods Discussed

Host

Primary Topics Discussed

Resource for Listeners

Episode Highlights

Key Stories from the Interview

Historical Insights About Lehi and Utah

Community and Legacy Themes

Memorable Quotes

Related Lehi Topics

Photo Opportunities for Historical Archive

Full Transcript

Jay Lawrence Drummer Lehi Utah Interview - Roots and Branches of Lehi Podcast

Quick Links
Contact

From the casino showrooms of Reno and Lake Tahoe to the classrooms of BYU and the quiet neighborhoods of Lehi — a professional drummer reflects on touring with Liberace, Cher, and Sammy Davis Jr., recording 130 Broadway shows, composing award-winning hymns, and discovering a community worth staying in for 21 years.

Work Hard Mortgage helps families achieve the dream of homeownership in Lehi and across Utah.

Every homeowner starts somewhere.

Some people are just beginning to dream. Others are getting financially ready. Some are already touring homes. Wherever you are in the process, this simple tool helps you understand your next best step. Take the Homebuyer Journey Quiz to see where you are — and where to go from here.

In this episode of Roots and Branches of Lehi , host Ryan Harding sits down with Jay Lawrence , a professional drummer whose 54-year career has spanned casino showrooms, Broadway recording studios, university lecture halls, and church hymn competitions. Born in Idaho and raised in Reno, Nevada, Jay spent his teenage years playing two shows a night for some of the biggest celebrities on the planet before most of his classmates had even chosen a college major. His journey — from a 15-year-old union musician in the Reno casino scene to a retired educator and composer living in Lehi for 21 years — is a rare window into the evolution of American music and the people who dedicate their lives to it.

Jay's story matters to Lehi, Utah history because it illustrates how people from vastly different backgrounds bring extraordinary talent, perspective, and values to this community. After decades on the road with Liberace, Cher, Sammy Davis Jr., the Osmonds, and dozens more, Jay discovered something unexpected in Utah County: a thriving, supportive music culture, a family-centered environment, and a peacefulness that convinced him to put down roots.

For anyone interested in local arts and culture , music education in Utah , faith and creativity , or the stories of Lehi residents with national careers , this interview offers both historical perspective and practical wisdom.

Prefer to listen? This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and other podcast platforms.

Jay Lawrence

Professional drummer (retired), composer, recording artist, university music instructor (BYU, University of Utah, Snow College), private teacher, and 21-year Lehi resident

1950s–2020s (childhood through retirement)

Ryan Harding

This interview offers valuable perspective on Lehi's cultural fabric and Utah's distinctive music ecosystem:

Throughout the interview, several broader themes emerge that reflect the values Jay discovered in Lehi and the principles that guided his 54-year career:

This episode connects to the broader Roots and Branches of Lehi archive. Explore these related topics:

To enhance this community profile, consider adding these visual elements to the historical record:

Professional drummer Jay Lawrence discusses touring with Liberace, Cher, and Sammy Davis Jr., teaching at BYU, composing hymns, and living in Lehi, Utah for 21 years. Oral history interview from Roots and Branches of Lehi.

Jay Lawrence drummer. Lehi Utah musicians. Utah music history. Liberace drummer stories. Broadway show recordings Utah. Lehi community podcast. Utah jazz education. LDS hymn composers. Reno casino showbands history. Roots and Branches of Lehi podcast.

Helping families achieve the dream of homeownership in Lehi and across Utah. Work Hard Mortgage is committed to making the mortgage process simple, transparent, and accessible.

NMLS #

Company NMLS #

© . All rights reserved.

  • Work Hard Mortgage
  • Home
  • About
  • Episodes
  • Contact
  • Be a Guest
  • Learn More →
  • Take the Quiz
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify