Steve Jay

Steve Jay
Born Eugene Stephen Jay
(1951-01-26) January 26, 1951
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Nationality American
Other names Eugene Stephen Jay
Stephen Jay

Eugene Steven Jay
Eugene Steve Jay
Eugen Stephen Jay
Eugen Steven Jay
Eugen Steve Jay
Occupation Guitarist, bassist
Years active ?-present

Eugene Stephen "Steve" Jay (born January 26, 1951) is an American guitarist and bassist, best known for working with "Weird Al" Yankovic.

Early life

Jay was born Eugene Stephen Jay in Detroit, Michigan on January 26, 1951. He auditioned for "Weird Al" Yankovic after answering an ad in the newspaper, and the two have worked together ever since. Jay can be heard or seen on all of Yankovic's albums, videos, and concerts.

He is also the founder of the ethno-funk duo Ak & Zuie, with Pete Gallagher. He has scored more than fifty nationally broadcast PBS specials and series episodes, including three George Foster Peabody Award winners, and contributed to several feature films. He has also done extensive session work, released eight solo records on his own Ayarou label, and produced two albums for the WEA Nonesuch Explorer series.

Jay's background includes a BA and MM Graduate Fellowship in composition from the University of South Florida in 1972. After completing his studies, he went to Niger and spent two and half years studying drumming. Selections from his archival field recordings of traditional West African ceremonies, dances, and solo performances were made into three albums released by Warner/Nonesuch.

Discography

Nonesuch Explorer Series

With "Weird Al" Yankovic

Solo albums

With Ak & Zuie

Compilations

References

  1. ↑ Originally released in 1976 as Africa: Drum, Chant & Instrumental Music; see West Africa: Drum, Chant & Instrumental Music
  2. ↑ Prior to Tangled Strings, a cassette-only release titled Whatever It Is was made available, containing many of the same songs which were later released on Tangled Strings. When Tangled Strings was released, Whatever It Is was retired.
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