Big Jay McNeely Death
Big passed away on September 16, 2018 at the age of 91 in Los Angeles, California, United States. Big's cause of death was cancer.
When did Big Jay McNeely die?
September 16, 2018How did Big Jay McNeely die? What was the cause of death?
CancerHow old was Big Jay McNeely when died?
91Where did Big Jay McNeely die? What was the location of death?
Los Angeles, California, United States
Big Jay McNeely Birthday and Date of Death
Big Jay McNeely was born on April 29, 1927 and died on September 16, 2018. Big was 91 years old at the time of death.
Birthday: April 29, 1927
Date of Death: September 16, 2018
Age at Death: 91
Big Jay McNeely - Biography
Cecil James McNeely (born April 29, 1927, Watts, Los Angeles, California), known as Big Jay McNeely, is an American rhythm and blues saxophonist.
Inspired by Illinois Jacquet and Lester Young, he teamed with his older brother Robert McNeely, who played baritone saxophone, and made his first recordings with drummer Johnny Otis, who ran the Barrelhouse Club that stood only a few blocks from McNeely's home. Shortly after he performed on Otis's "Barrel House Stomp." Ralph Bass, A&R man for Savoy Records, promptly signed him to a recording contract. Bass's boss, Herman Lubinsky, suggested the stage name Big Jay McNeely because Cecil McNeely did not sound commercial. McNeely's first hit was "The Deacon's Hop," an instrumental which topped the Billboard R&B chart in early 1949. The single was his most successful of his three chart entries.
Big Jay McNeely regularly performs at the International Boogie Woogie Festival in The Netherlands, and recorded an album with Martijn Schok, the festival's promoter, in 2009. The album was entitled Party Time, and one track from the album, "Get On Up and Boogie" (Parts 1, 2, and 3)", was featured on the vintage music compilation This is Vintage Now (2011).
