At the end of 1948 [right after the second AFM strike], Ralph Bass, an a&r guy at Savoy [in Los
In 1950, Big Jay was playing Clarksville, Tenn., when he had an idea to amp up his act:
When we played Clarksville for the first time, the audience didn't respond. They just sat there. I couldn't understand that. The music usually got people going. So on the next set I did something different. I got
Miraculously, Big Jay at age 85 is still touring and recording—mostly in Europe, where musicians and audiences recognize and appreciate his gifts and importance. But he can't seem to get a gig or kudos here.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Big Jay McNeely's Life Story (Brisk) here, here or at iTunes.
And while you're at it, sample The Best of Big Jay McNeely (1948-55) here. That's right—he's not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
JazzWax note: You can read my interview with Big Jay McNeely here and Bob Willoughby here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Big Jay McNeely with the Ray Collins Hot-Club...
Here's Big Jay in San Francisco a few years ago, blowing his big hit Deacon's Hop...
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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