Jay Allen Chattaway

Jay Allen Chattaway was born and raised in Monongahela, Pennsylvania. He began playing piano at age seven and added the trumpet at age 10. He began writing for his junior high band in eighth grade and arranged music for the band of Monongahela High School, from which he graduated in 1964 Chattaway was awarded a Board of Governors’ scholarship to West Virginia University to study Composition and Music Education. He would later serve as Assistant Band Director while working on his master’s degree.

Chattaway’s graduate studies were interrupted by the Vietnam War, when he joined the arranging staff of the US Navy Band. He was soon promoted to Chief Arranger and Composer-in-Residence. Chattaway returned to WVU many years later to complete his master’s degree and was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni.

After leaving the Navy, Chattaway began writing and producing for CBS. His first album contained the hit version of the theme from “Rocky,” earning him a gold album and the first of many Grammy nominations. Chattaway has worked with such musical luminaries as Carly Simon, Herb Alpert, Bob James, Doc Severinson and the Von Trapp children and has written music for many films, including “Red Scorpion,” Chuck Norris’s “Missing-in-Action” and Stephen King’s “Silver Bullet.”  He has also composed for National Geographic and Jacques Cousteau.

In 1991, Chattaway was asked to be a guest composer for “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and subsequently worked on scores for “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Deep Space Nine,” “Voyager” and “Enterprise.”  His television work has garnered nine Emmy Nominations and one Emmy.

Chattaway donated his collection of Star Trek scores and continues to mentor composition students.  He currently serves as Distinguished Composer in Residence at WVU. He recently composed and conducted “Jubilee150” to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the University.