MJSF Band About Page

Megan Jean's Secret Family

Megan Jean:  Lead Vocals, Bass

Byrne Klay:  Guitar, Vocals

Tommy Bailey:  Drums, Keys, Vocals

Eric Davis:  Guitar, Vocals

Megan Jean’s Secret Family is a fresh blend of the 70’s by way of the 90’s rock, soul, country, and jam, emphasizing vocal-driven danceable original songs that bring together generations of sound. In May of 2024, the band made their national radio debut on NPR’s Mountain Stage alongside notable acts like Keller Williams and Bettye Lavette. DC Music Review called them one of their “New favorite acts” following an energitc performance at 2024’s DelFest. The band was awarded a creativity grant from the Maryland State Arts Council to produce their debut full-length album PLOT (Play.Loud.On.Turntable) which will be released in Fall 2024. In the three years since their formation they have shared the stage with Fastball, The Spin Doctors, Cabinet, Joan Osbourne, and Cris Jacobs.

Megan Jean Vocals Bass Washboard Multi-Instrument Songwriter Singer

Megan Jean

Megan Jean Klay has been writing and performing original songs for 20 years, beginning her career in New York City’s East Village while studying theatre at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. There she performed her first show and held a residency at CBGB’s and performed at The Knitting Factory and Piano’s. After meeting her husband Byrne Klay and forming a duo they released their first album Autumn (2010) as Megan Jean and the Klay Family Band, which was later abbreviated to KFB for the release of three self released full-length albums in Dead Woman Walkin’ (2010), The Devil Herself (2013), and Tarantistas (2018). As a duo the KFB performed 2000+ shows, sharing the stage with Charles Bradley, Shovels and Rope, Amythyst Kiah, Reverend Peytons Big Damn Band, and 10,000 Maniacs. They were featured on PBS’s Music Voyager and Heartland’s More Than the Music, won Floydfest’s On The Rise Competition, and played the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. In 2021 Megan Jean began work on her solo singer songwriter album “Death Is An Old Friend,” and formed a new band called Megan Jean’s Secret Family with husband Byrne Klay and drummer Tommy Bailey of Fletcher’s Grove. She is currently writing and performing with both her solo act and full band while teaching vocals in Western Maryland.

 

Byrne Klay Multi-Instrument Songwriter Composer Guitar Bass Upright Banjo Keys

byrne klay

Byrne Klay has been playing music professionally since he was 16 in White Plains, NY, getting his start picking up bass gigs. From 2002-2005 he toured and recorded extensively in Japan, Taiwan, Europe, Australia, and the USA with the theatrical punk outfit Dynamite Club. Around the same time he co-led the instrumental band ThisSpySurfs with Todd Colburn, holding an extended residency at Sideshow Art Gallery in Williamsburg Brooklyn. 

In 2004 he met Megan Jean and the two have been recording and touring together ever since. In 2022 he joined The Folk Em All Trio in Frostburg MD with Jody Mosser and Fiddlin’ Ray Bruckman. That same year the trio United with Joe Craven (Jerry Garcia/Dave Grisman) to form Joe Craven and the Y’allterations, making appearances at festivals on the east coast. 

Tommy Bailey Drummer Keyboards Songwriter Vocals Engineer

tommy bailey

Tommy Bailey started performing live with bands at the age of 16.  After going to Morgantown, WV to attend WVU he met Fletcher’s Grove while recording their album “Pepperoni Pizza” at his project home studio.  He later joined as the  permanent drummer for the band that has completed several midwest and east-coast tours, playing music festivals such as Summer Camp, All Good, 4848, and their own festival called Groovin’ With The Grove which is where he originally met Megan and Byrne Klay.  He was blown away by their sound and has since been working with them as Megan Jean’s Secret Family.    Recording has also remained a passion for Tommy as he continues to grow his home studio – working with many regional acts and producing a Billboard Top Ten record along the way in C.E. Jones’ Bach Variations re-arranged for Folk Instrumentation which charted in both Bluegrass and Classical.  Tommy has also attended the NAMM Conference in Anaheim California as a sponsored Los Cabos Drumsticks artist. 

Young Bill Guitar

eric davis