Jay eventually hooked up with George “Lucky” Lloyd who shared Jay’s passion for music.  Proctor never looked at “The Sinceres” record sales as a set-back (how many music groups during that period ever had a chance to make a record) but continued to sharpen his musical and vocal talents with his friend Lucky.

“One day a friend invited us to stop by his place and sing with their group,” Proctor said. “Lucky and I had nothing to lose and decided to do it.  The session went well so we stuck with it, and after weeding out some people here and there, we formed a group that eventually became The Techniques.  I never thought of myself as the leader but I knew what we wanted and how to get it done; it just came natural to me.”

The band, with front men Proctor and Lloyd as vocalists, were one of the first integrated acts to make it big in the music industry.  The group also featured Chuck Crowl (bass), Ronnie Goosley (sax), Dante Dancho (lead guitar), John Walsh (trumpet) and Karl Landis (drums).

“We practiced all the time”, Proctor said.  “Day and night we would be playing music, singing songs and working toward a goal.  We didn’t have a name for the group yet, but we wanted it to start with a “T” like our favorite group, The Temptations.  Every name we came up with didn’t work.  One afternoon a member of the group, Barbara Carter, was sitting in on a brainstorming session reading a magazine when she spotted the word “techniques” in an article and suggested it to the group.  After she said it out loud she started to laugh, but I said that sounded pretty good and then everyone said “Yeah, that ain’t bad, The Techniques”.  And it started with a “T.” That’s how the band became “The Techniques.”

Every month there was a “Battle of The Bands” in Allentown hosted by Gene Kaye, the legendary WAEB DJ and popular Allentown entertainment promoter.  The Techniques tried to get invited to the monthly show but the acts were always booked. However, persistence paid off for The Techniques.  “A band canceled at the last minute” Proctor remembers, “and Gene Kaye called to see if we wanted to fill in.  We didn’t hesitate.  We were at the competition in record time ready to win the contest.  After our set, I knew we won hands down.  I guess the judges thought differently, we came in second but we got what we came for anyway, a demo session at a recording studio in Philadelphia, Cameo-Parkway Records.  That’s where we met Jerry Ross, nationally known music producer, for the first time.”

Jerry Ross was on his way to Mercury Records and insisted he bring The Techniques with him after hearing the group at the Philadelphia demo session.  “Jerry Ross liked the group so much he got us a deal and we were on our way,” says Proctor.