From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Mon Apr 29, 2002  2:09 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Big Jay McNeely
 
BIG JAY McNEELY

Born Cecil James McNeely, 29 April 1927, Los Angeles, California

Tenor saxophonist / bandleader. A legendary showman in R&B, McNeely
was one of the pioneers of the wild, honking style that emerged in the
dance halls during the late '40s. The definitive tune of this style was
"Deacon's Hop", which reached # 1 R&B in 1949, on the Savoy label.
His "Wild Wig", which went to # 12 R&B the same year, was McNeely's
only other chart record in this style. He returned to the charts in 1959
with the classic "There Is Something On Your Mind" (# 5 R&B / # 44 pop),
but vocalist Sonny Warner was the focus rather than McNeely. Later he
worked for the post office, but could still draw crowds in L.A. clubs
anytime. During the '80s McNeely revived his career with a series of
reissue albums. His new recordings were mainly released in Europe only.

More info: http://www.mojoworkin.com/bluesrag/features/bigjaypt2.html
Further reading: Jim Dawson, Nervous Man Nervous : Big Jay McNeely and
the rise of the honking tenor sax. Milford, NH : Big Nickel Publications, 1994.
CD : The Chronological Big Jay McNeely, 1948-1950 (Classics 5009).