Jay Kenneth Johnson was born in Springfield, Missouri to Janice Johnson and Ken Johnson. Johnson attended Kickapoo High School, graduating in 1995 (the same high school as another Springfield resident - Brad Pitt). He landed his first small role on the Young and the Restless just a few months after dropping out of Southwest Missouri State University and moving to California. Just weeks later Johnson was given his part as Philip Kiriakis on the longtime daytime series Days of Our Lives. Johnson enjoys singing and formed a band in Springfield.
Attended Southwest Missouri State Jay and Brad Pitt are on the same path. Both are from Springfield, Missouri, and attended Kickapoo High School, as well as the same church. Both moved to California and, after seven months, landed their first jobs. Jay and Brad also once shared the same John Aniston, who plays Victor Kiriakis, Jay's character Philip's father in Cruise of Deception: Days of Our Lives, is Brad's former father-in-law. Other local celebrity sightings include Adrienne Wilkinson who is also from Springfield Missouri and graduated in the same class with Jay from Kickapoo High School. Adrienne has also been on Cruise of Deception: Days of Our Lives in addition to being a lead actress on the most watched television show in history Xena: Warrior Princess. Has a younger brother named Jeff and a younger sister named Jenna. So loved by his Days of Our Lives fans that, when he left, they hired a plane to fly over the NBC studios carrying a banner wishing him "Good Luck". Lead vocalist and co-song writer for Solid Jones, a high powered funk/rock fusion band. Other members include Bryan Powers, 'Dirty' Dave Harp, Rick Steff, Dave Green and Kevin Houston. As a singer he has a distinctive strong, husky voice and a very impressive range. Good friends with former co-stars Jason Cook, Nadia Bjorlin and Aaron van Wagner from 'Days Of Our Lives'. While recording a track for the Solid Jones debut record, he kept a copy of Victoria's Secret open in the recording consul for inspiration. He later thanked Victoria's Secret in the CD. Is a fan of vocalists Lenny Kravitz, Anthony Kiedis, Jim Morrison and Robert Plant. Six months after arriving in Hollywood, he auditioned for the role of Brady Black on 'Day Of Our Lives' but was instead cast as Phillip Kiriakis.